The Allen Community College men were “right there” for the entire game, head coach Andy Shaw said, but a lack of intensity prevented the Red Devils from overcoming what ended up a 69-60 defeat at the hand of Kansas City, Kan., Community College.
“We didn’t play with the same effort that we have been for the past three or four games,” Shaw said.
The score bounced back and forth between both teams for the majority of the game, while KCKCC held a slight lead. Antonio Winn and Lamonte Burgette had early scores for the Blue Devils, which had them up 18-12 with 12 minutes left in the half.
A surge from the Red Devils had them back in the game in no time.
Andrew Rountree hit on a hard drive from inside, while Ben Uno nailed a three, followed by a 2-pointer from Tray Fountain. Alex Keiswetter hit a two inside to tie the game at 23-all six minutes before the half.
A 3-pointer from Seth Walden had ACC in the lead 28-25. But it didn’t last long.
The Blue Devils bounced back just before the half. Dominique Washington hit back-to-back 3-pointers, along with a three from Winn. Evrard Atcho had a hard dunk to end the half with all of the momentum in KCKCC’s favor, 38-31.
The visiting team held on to the lead for the remainder of the contest.
“We missed easy opportunities around the rim, and a lot of rebounds, too,” Shaw said. “They shot the ball well.”
The scoring continued for both squads, however, early in the second half. Josh Rupprechy and Washington had multiple scores from the oppositions side.
Keiswetter was all over the court in the beginning of the second half. He had multiple shots underneath, many from rebounds and follow-ups from missed shots.
The Red Devils edged within four points late in the contest. Bryce Schippers got into the action with a couple of 3-pointers, and Rountree went to the line multiple times.
The Blue Devils, however, resisted the Red Devils’ best efforts.
Keiswetter led ACC in scoring with 11 points, Rickey Roberts and DeAndrae Barnette had 10 apiece. Rountree had eight rebounds, Roberts had four assists.
As a team, the Red Devils went 23 for 61 from field-goal range (37.7 percent), and six for 20 from three-point range (30 percent). They hit eight of 14 from the foul line (57.1 percent).
Shaw said the team just didn’t have “it,” which was direly needed for any sort of comeback win. Despite a close game at times, he felt that his team didn’t step up and compete when it needed to.
“We just got beat,” he said flatly.
The Red Devils travel to Cowley Community College on Saturday.
KCKCC (38-31—69)
ACC (31-29—60)
KCKCC (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Winn 2/3-1-1-14, Booker 3/1-1-0-10, Burgette 0-1-3-1, Banks 4/1-1-0-12, Rupprecht 2/1-3-4-10, Washington 4/2-3-0-18, Atcho 2-0-2-4. TOTALS: 17/8-11-10-69.
ACC (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Rountree 2-5-3-9, Burnes 0-0-1-0, Roberts 5-0-2-10, Fountain 1-0-1-2, Schippers 0/2-0-0-6, Uno 0/1-0-0-3, Keiswetter 5-1-1-11, Barnette 1/2-2-1-10, Walden 0/1-0-1-3, Stockebrand 1-0-2-2, Walter 2-0-2-4. TOTALS: 17/6-8-15-60.
Red Devils fall in home finale
