The first half of Allen’s men’s basketball season has been turbulent. From multiple injuries, illnesses and other reasons keeping players out of games, to an eight-game winning streak.
“We are happy to be 10-4, obviously we wish there were a few more wins,” said Red Devil head coach Andy Shaw. “Overall, we are pleased with where we are at. We haven’t had our full roster available for any game this season. We have had a little bit of everything go on this first semester.”
The winning streak included a win over a top 25 team, Central Community College, played at a neutral site in Beatrice, Neb.
“That was a big win for us,” Shaw said. “Scottie Turner made the buzzer-beater when we were down by a point with a few seconds left. Wins against ranked teams are always big. It was a big momentum booster for us.”
The streak ended in the Red Devils final game before the break, an 88-85 loss to Kansas Wesleyan University’s junior varsity team.
“We had three games in four days at the end,” Shaw said. “We had a few guys out and got worn down a little bit. We wish we could have that game back but hopefully it will help our minds reset and help us refocus.”
With so many students going to so many different places over break, it can be hard for Shaw and his staff to manage everything.
“It’s a blessing and a curse, especially at the Juco level,” Shaw commented. “Guys here get a pretty significant break, compared to players at the four-year level. Here you get a couple of weeks off. All of the teams in our conference bring the kids back around the same time. We just remind these kids that they can’t go home and sit around, you have to get in the gym and have discipline.”
Once students are back from break, they have five days before their final non-conference game of the season, a tilt against Ottawa University’s junior varsity team. After that, it’s headfirst into KJCCC play, starting on Jan. 12 against Labette Community College.
“It’s a tough eight- team league,” Shaw said. “We use the conference in recruiting and once they get here, we make sure they know how tough it is to beat a conference opponent and the mindset you have to have. You can’t underestimate any team. There are no nights off.”
Only a few four-year schools have contacted Shaw about his sophomores due to leave at the end of the year, but that’s expected to increase as conference play begins.
With any luck, the ACC athletes will be healthy in the second half of the season and the team can finally have all its pieces on the floor at once.
“I don’t think we’ve scratched the full potential of what we could be. To me, that’s a positive sign,” Shaw said. “If we can keep everybody moving in the right direction, I think it could allow us to take another step forward.”
