Allen Community College had several key performers Saturday in their 91-82 win over visiting Independence, the Red Devils’ third straight home conference win.
None shined brighter than sophomore point guard Darnell Jones-Bowie, who poured in a career-high 26 points to go with four assists (to only one turnover) and several clutch free throws down the stretch.
“That from a point guard is huge,” Red Devil head coach Andy Shaw said. “If he plays well, we play well as a team.”
Allen (12-10 overall; 4-8 in conference) led pretty much from the start, opening a 12-point advantage in the first half, before the visiting Pirates (13-8; 4-8) turned on the jets late in the half to forge a 39-39 tie at intermission.
Undaunted, the Red Devils quickly regained the upper hand in the second half.
A Red Devil steal preceded Tremaine Fraiser’s layup to push Allen’s lead back to double digits, 68-57, with about 10 minutes remaining.
The lead grew to as much as 13 before Independence again roared back to make things interesting with seven straight points. Tate Turner’s putback cut Allen’s lead to 82-76.
Jones-Bowie scored off Jermaine Long’s assist on Allen’s next possession.
The lead yo-yoed between six and eight points down the stretch. Allen ensured Independence’s comeback would be for naught with some pinpoint free throw shooting. The Red Devils hit 29 of 35 from the line, hitting 13 in a row at one point in the waning minutes.
“It wasn’t a pretty game,” Shaw said. “We had four more offensive rebounds (16 to 12). Those extra possessions for us were huge.
“I told the guys it’s about protecting home court,” Shaw continued. “That’s what you have to do in conference: protect your home court and try to steal some road wins.”
That’s what the Red Devils hope to do tonight, when they travel down U.S. 169 to rival Neosho Community College.
“We’ll try to steal some road wins,” he said. “It’s a big rivalry at Neosho. They’re leading the conference and playing well. It’s going to be a big game for us.”
Jones-Bowie went 10 of 12 from the line and 4 of 6 from 3-point range to reach his career high. Jameel Henson followed with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Long chipped in with 15 points and six boards.
Davauhnte Turner paced Independence with 21 points. De’Andre King added 10.
THE RED DEVIL women struggled from the field in a 64-49 defeat.
Allen (6-6 overall; 2-10 in Jayhawk Conference) shot a cool 36 percent from the floor (25 percent from 3-point range) and hit only five of 12 free throws.
Independence, meanwhile, sparkled from the line, hitting 14 of 18 charities.
Simone Costa did much of the damage for Independence, pouring in 26 points.
The Lady Pirates, under the tutelage of Leslie Crane, daughter of legendary Red Devil basketball coach Neil Crane, led 30-22 at the break.
Ashley Washington scored 12 points and Zasha Taylor 11 points and eight rebounds to pace Allen. Damonica Taylor contributed eight points, 10 rebounds and four assists. Ashley Sally also had four assists.
Elina Berzina added 10 points for the Lady Pirates (15-7; 6-6).
Women
Independence (30-34—64) (FG/3pt): Jackson-Brewer 2/1-0-2-7, Alston 1-0-1-2, Berzina 3/1-1-2-10, Costa 7/3-3-3-26, Palmer 0-1-2-1, Pead 1-0-1-2, Bartel 1-0-0-2, Daniels 1/1-3-4-8, Hadjukokovich 1-4-1-6.
Allen (22-27—49) (FG/3pt): Washington 4/1-1-4-12, Wilson 1/2-0-2-8, Sorrells 0-0-5-0, Reilly 0-1-2-1, Franklin 3-2-2-8, Sally 1/1-0-2-5, Taylor 5-1-2-11, Haar 2-0-2-4. TOTALS: 16/4-5-20-49.
Men
Independence (39-43—82) (FG/3pt): D. Turner 7/1-4-2-21, T. Turner 2-0-4-4, Riley 3-0-2-6, King 4-2-3-10, Beasley 2/1-0-4-7, Smith 3-2-5-8, Hart 0/3-0-1-9, Hunt 0-0-1-0, Scroggins 2-4-1-8, Adeyemo 4-1-0-9. TOTALS: 27/5-13-24-82.
Allen (39-52—91) (FG/3pt): Long 1/3-4-4-15, Jones-Bowie 2/4-10-4-26, Mims 2-3-2-7, Womack 2/3-2-7, Henson 6-9-4-21, Fraiser 3-0-1-6, Blaue 0/2-0-1-6, Spruill 0/1-0-1-3, Cross 0-0-1-0. TOTALS; 16/10-29-20-91.
