Allen falls to Grizzlies

EL DORADO — After staying within 2 points of host Butler Community College Wednesday, Allen Community College’s offense went sour for more than 5 crucial minutes in the second half.
In the interim, the Grizzlies turned a 61-59 lead to a 13-point advantage.
The Red Devils could get no closer than eight after that in an 84-74 defeat.
The loss drops Allen to 11-10 overall and 3-8 in Jayhawk Conference action.
The Red Devils had the upper hand early, thanks to some hot 3-point shooting from Jermaine Long and Jah-Kobe Womack.
Womack’s trey at the 11:25 mark of the half put the Red Devils on top 19-10. Darren Spruill did the same a minute later to re-establish the 9-point advantage.
But even though Allen hit seven 3-pointers in the opening half, Butler countered with a 15-5 run before intermission to take a 45-42 lead at the break.
The lead was in Butler’s favor, 57-50, before Long hit a pair of throws and a 3-pointer to key a 9-4 Allen run. Darnelle Jones-Bowie’s jumper with 12:52 left on the clock pulled Allen to within 61-59.
But the Red Devils went without a field goal over the next 5 minutes — they did manage four free throws — while Butler embarked on a 15-4 run. Allen was done in by cool shooting from both the 3-point and free-throw lines after the break. Allen hit only two 3-pointers in the half and went 12 of 22 from the charity stripe.
Allen was led once again by Long, who poured on 34 points to go with five rebounds. Jones-Bowie and Womack each added 20 points, while Ithello Cross had seven boards. Jones-Bowie also had three steals; Womack 2.
Caelan Neal scored 23 to pace Butler.
The game featured 53 fouls between both teams. Allen hit 19 of 32 free throws for the game; Butler was 35 of 43.
Allen returns home Saturday to host Independence. Tip-off is at about 4 p.m.
Allen (42-42—84) (FG/3pt): 7/3-11-4-34, Jones-Bowie 6/2-2-5-20, Mims 0-0-2-0, Henson 0-2-4-2, Cross 1-0-2-2, Redrick 0-0-1-0, Womack 5/2-4-2-20, Spruill 0/2-0-3-6, Tingling 0-0-1-0. TOTALS: 19-9-19-26-84.
Butler (45-49—94) (FG/3pt): Neal 3/3-8-4-23, Byrd 4/1-7-3-18, House 1-1-4-3, Adler 0-0-3-0, Joseph 5-9-2-10, Harvey 3-6-4-12, Akao 1/1-2-2-7, Chapman 4-2-5-10, Love 1-0-0-2. TOTALS: 22/5-35-27-94.