Allen men win another road squeaker

PARSONS — Another day, another key division road win for Allen Community College’s basketball squad.
The Red Devils overcame a late seven-point deficit to hold off host Labette Community College, 77-74.
The win keeps Allen in the mix for a Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division title at 3-2 (15-8 overall).
Saturday’s contest featured 21 lead changes and 16 ties, head coach Andy Shaw said.
“That just shows how close this game was the entire way,” Shaw said. “Allen showed some toughness down the stretch.”
A Josh Sweet steal and 3-pointer led the comeback after Labette took a seven-point lead with just over 3 minutes remaining.
As has been the case all season, the Red Devils spread the wealth offensively with five players in double figures.
Courtney Stockard led the way with 19 points, followed by Sweet with 14, Raheem Tyner with 13, Cody Sluder with 12 and Tray Fountain with 11.
Labette stayed close with a decided advantage at the free throw line. While the Red Devils struggled from the stripe — they hit only 19 of 33 charities — Labette was 27 of 32.
Allen shot 42 percent from the field, while Labette shot only 34 percent from the field and 5 of 23 from 3-point range. The Cardinals led Allen in rebounding, 42 to 37.
Stedman Allen scored 19, Aaron Smith 18 and Keith Charleston 13 to lead Labette.
Allen plays at home for the first time in more than two weeks, and for just the third time in 2014, when it hosts division-leading Independence tonight.
The eastern division standings remain a cluster, with six of the seven teams within two games of Independence.
“This is a big game,” Shaw said.
Allen (34-43—77)
Labette (37-37—74)
Allen (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Sluder 4-4-5-12, Keiswetter 0-1-5-1, Uno 2-1-4-5, Fountain 4/1-0-2-11, Sweet 2/2-4-1-14, Stockard 3/2-7-1-19, Watson 1-0-1-2, Tyner 4/1-2-3-13. TOTALS: 20/6-19-22-77.
Labette (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Luerman 0-0-3-0, Allen 5-9-5-19, Smith 1/3-7-1-18, Harrison 0/1-3-2-6, Charleston 4/1-2-5-13, Williams 1-4-3-6, Elechi 3-1-2-7, King 0-0-1-0, Daniels 1-0-0-2, Johnson 1-1-2-3. TOTALS: 16/5-27-24-74.