HIGHLAND — Allen Community College’s offense went cold at the worst possible time Wednesday.
Allen’s latest in a series of heartbreaking losses, a 74-71 overtime defeat at Highland, came after an eight-point lead dissipated over the last 5½ minutes of regulation.
The Scotties sent the game to overtime with a 10-2 run, tying the score at 61-61 with a pair of free throws in the waning seconds of regulation.
Allen then lost possession on a crucial missed Highland free throw in the waning seconds of the overtime, depriving the Red Devils of a golden opportunity to tie the score or take the lead.
But the ball trickled out of bounds as a pair of Red Devils collided with each other as they fought for the rebound.
Forced to foul once again, Allen sent Highland’s Bubba Leavell to the line. He hit both, pushing the Scotties ahead, 72-68, with 9 seconds left.
Grayson Allen drilled a 3-pointer with 3.4 seconds remaining to slice the deficit to 72-71. Highland’s Dayveon Turner pushed the Scotties ahead by 3 with a pair of free throws with 2.4 seconds left.
David Teele got a clean look for a three-quarters quarter desperation shot at the buzzer, but it caromed off the backboard after the buzzer sounded.
The Red Devils missed 5 of 6 field goals down the stretch, and lost momentum after a series of technical fouls were called on both teams with Allen ahead, 61-59, with 37 seconds remaining.
The technicals stemmed from a skirmish after Highland was whistled for a hard foul that sent ACC guard Randy Crosby crumpling to the floor for several seconds.
Players on both teams began arguing, leading to offsetting technicals on Allen’s EJ Lewis and Killian Spellman, as well as Highland’s Dayveon Turner and Buba Leavell.
Allen retained possession, but could not score, after the officials ruled Danta Jackson’s 3-point attempt did not beat the shot clock.
Jackson blocked a Highland shot with 8 seconds left in regulation, but the Scotties retained possession with an offensive rebound. That led to an open look from Turner, which forced Allen to foul.
Turner hit both charities with 2 seconds left to send the game to overtime.
Allen’s Grayson Ryan pushed the Red Devils ahead, 68-66, with a minute left in the overtime session, but Turner put Highland back on top, 69-68, with a 3-point play at the :39 mark.
