by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Kansas City Kansas Community College gave surging Allen County a big scare Tuesday night before the once-beaten Red Devils escaped with a 72-67 win in Iola.
The win, the fifth in a row, came just a week after Allen had posted an 84-64 win over the Blue Devils in Kansas City and three days after the Red Devils (8-1) had posted a 106-103 road upset of No. 11 ranked Moberly.
The Blue Devils have another re-match Saturday when they play host to Southwestern of Creston, Iowa, at 4 p.m.
Leading 35-29 at halftime, the Red Devils extended their lead to 17 points with 14 minutes remaining.
“From there it was all KCKCC,” it was reported on the Allen County website. “The Blue Devils went on a huge run and held a 2-point lead with five minutes to play. Perry Carroll made a big corner 3-pointer to regain the lead for Allen and luckily from there the Red Devils were able to hold on for the win. Last week, Allen won on the road by 20 points at KCK but the Blue Devils had a different energy about them and fought the Red Devils the whole way.”
“A really good game,” KCKCC coach Kelley Newton said. “I love the way my team didn’t quit and kept competing. Slowly but surely we’re getting better and showing improvements. We have to continue to move forward. I have to continue to teach our guys how to win and then we can start winning consistently.”
The Blue Devils had four more field goals and drained 25 of 49 shots for 51 percent while limiting Allen County to a season low 33.9 percent (21-62).
However, the Red Devils overcame the field goal deficit by converting 24-of -35 free throws (16-of-21 for KCKCC) and making six 3-poiinters to 1-for-10 for KCKCC.
Freshman Jalen Davis scored 18 points and sophomore Arother Ratliff 13 of the 19 points scored by the sophs.
Freshmen Daiyon Taylor added nine points and Calvin Slaughter seven\ as 10 Blue Devils scored.
Taylor and Slaughter also led in rebounding with seven each. Allen had a 38-34 edge in rebounding including a game-changing 17 off the offensive boards.
Both teams had 14 turnovers although the Red Devils converted the turnovers into 14 points as opposed to eight for KCKCC.