Fourth-ranked Hutchinson decks ACCC

Strong start and an inspired run in the final 10 minutes of the game just wasn’t enough for Allen County Community College Red Devils to post a win in Tuesday’s home opener.
The Red Devils got out in front of fourth-ranked Hutchinson Community College’s Blue Dragons, leading 8-4. The Blue Dragons rattled off 14 unanswered points and raced to a 21-point halftime lead.
Hutchinson stretched that to a 29-point margin, 73-44 by the 13:37 mark of the second half. It was able to withstand a 28-11 run by the Red Devils over the next seven-and-a-half minutes.
“We made our run but we had dug ourselves such a big hole in the first half,” said Anwar Perry, ACCC head coach, following his team’s 100-82 loss to Hutchinson.
“Just like our game at Penn Valley last week, we got behind in the first half then played even in the second half.”
Sophomore Jason Smith fired in 39 points for the Red Devils. Smith paced Allen County with 18 points in the first half and 21 in the second.
Smith and freshman Terrell Shears had back-to-back baskets to put the Red Devils up 4-0. Smith and sophomore Keevis Tukes scored to push Allen County’s lead to 8-4 at the 16:08 mark of the first half.
Dylan Frantz sank one of two free throws for Hutchinson then William Nelson hit a three-point field goal to tie the game at 8-8. From there, the Blue Dragons pushed out to an 18-8 lead.
Smith broke the Hutchinson run with a bucket at the 10-minute mark. But the Blue Dragons just kept increasing their lead to a 50-29 halftime margin.
“We started out in a take-control mode then we missed a couple of shots and didn’t guard our man defensively,” Perry said.
“We just lost focus on the game and worried about things we couldn’t control. At the end of the day, it is still 5-on-5 out there and we have to guard our man.”
Perry said he spent halftime talking to his team about staying together and focusing on the game.
Shears knocked down a three-pointer to open the second half for ACCC. Shears, who had 15 points in the game, was 3-for-3 from outside the arc.
Allen County’s run didn’t come until after Hutchinson had built a 73-44 lead. Then the Red Devils began to creep back into the game and put a little pressure on the Blue Dragons.
Down 78-57, ACCC sophomore Tahshaun Kelly hit a three-pointer at the 9:43 mark to cut the gap to 18 points again. After freshman Thomas Daniel scored inside for the Red Devils, Hutchinson used a timeout, leading 81-66.
Smith had a breakaway dunk to make it 83-70. But he was assessed a technical foul for hanging onto the rim and Hutchinson’s Joe Mitchell hit one of two free throws.
Smith, who was 16 of 18 from the free-throw line, sank two charities at the six-minute mark. Allen County had moved to within 12 points, 84-72.
It was 86-74 when the Red Devils missed two inside attempts at the basket and Hutchinson took advantage. With three minutes left, it was 92-74.
“We just have to get better offensively and defensively. This was a good experience for us to go against a strong Hutchinson team the second game of the season,” Perry said.
“It gives a good read on what we need to work on.”
Perry said last week at Penn Valley, he had to sit three starters for the first half because of they missed classes the day before.
“Our team rules state if you don’t go to class, you lose playing time. The guys knew they were wrong and apologized to the team and haven’t missed class since,” Perry said.
“Tonight, I liked that our guys didn’t fold it up. They came back in the second half and made a game of it. We just had too far to come back from.”
The Red Devils (0-2) are home Friday and Saturday in the 2010 Citizens Bank Classic.
The ACCC women and men play Friday against Northern Oklahoma-Tonkawa at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Friday. On Saturday, the ACCC teams play Butler Community College at 6 and 8.
Kelly ended up with 10 points for the Red Devils. Allen County shot 59.5 percent, 28 of 47, from the field  while Hutchinson was 36 of 47 for 76.5 percent.
The Red Devils sank 20 of 27 free throw attempts and the Blue Dragons went 21 of 32 at the free-throw line.
Hutchinson had a 34 to 23 rebounding advantage. Smith and Shears each had five rebounds for ACCC. Tukes dished out five assists.
William Nelson fired in 28 points for Hutchinson. Mitchell added 19 and Mark Braden had 16 points.
Allen County (29-53—82) (FG/3-pt): Hollis 1-0-3-2, Smith 10/1-16-3-39, Tukes 3-0-3-6, Kelly 2/1-3-3-10, Myrick 0/1-0-1-3, Shears 3/3-0-3-15, Benton 0-1-5-1, Daniel 3-0-4-6. TOTALS: 22/6-20-25-82.
Hutchinson (50-50—100 ) (FG/3-pt): Hooks 1-4-0-6, Braden 6/1-1-2-16, Schultz 3-2-0-8, Nelson 7/3-5-2-28, Frantz 2-3-1-7, Mitchell 7/1-2-3-19, Calixte 1-0-0-2, Reed 2-3-4-7, Sullivan 0-0-2-0, Denson 0/2-1-4-7. TOTALS: 29/7-21-18-100.