Archives > Sports > Schools
Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
RSS
Share
West holds off surging Allen attack
BY Kevin Hageland Staff Writer
Allen didn’t hold the lead for one moment Tuesday night against Plano West, but the Eagles weren’t out of the game until the final seconds.
West led by as many as 11 points in the fourth quarter, but turnovers, poor free throw shooting and an Allen team that heated up allowed the Eagles to creep back to within 52-50 with 48 seconds remaining.
Allen got the ball the back with 15 seconds remaining and the same score intact. Eagles senior Cameron Coleman led the team with 15 points, but his 3-pointer that would have given Allen its first lead was off the mark and West junior Geoffrey Groselle pulled down the last of his game-high 12 rebounds. Groselle, who had a game-high 17 points, made one of his ensuing two free throws to set the final at 53-50.
It didn’t appear as though things would come down to the last shot early on as West jumped out to a 6-0 lead in front of a raucous crowd. Wolves senior point guard Mike Jahner assisted the first two buckets, including a game-opening alley-oop to senior Jackson Jeffcoat, who had 10 points and seven rebounds.
Things would have gotten further out of hand if not for the play of Allen senior Channing Pozniak, who had 10 points to go along with his team-high 10 boards.
“Channing has been our leading rebounder for two years,” Specht said. “But I don’t think anyone really notices him because he is such a blue-collar guy. He was relentless tonight.”
West led, 13-11, at the end of the first quarter and extended that advantage to 23-16 at the half despite going 1-for-6 from the stripe in the second quarter.
“We’ve got to do a better job of converting on our free throws and lay-ups,” said Anthony Morgan, West head coach. “If we’re going to get easy basket opportunities, we’ve got to take advantage of them.”
Both teams struggled offensively in the second quarter as West had a number of turnovers on outlet passes and Allen responded by too frequently driving the lane into a glut of Wolves defenders. Those problems were corrected and the respective offenses regrouped in the third quarter as West added another bucket to its advantage and stayed in front, 37-28, heading into the final frame.
West continued to use cross-court passes for easy baskets and the Wolves equaled their largest lead of the night at 49-38 after a foul against Allen that had Specht livid enough to take off his tie. Specht flung his tie towards the stands after the game, but got it back before the night was over.
“I’ll trade a tie for a district championship any day,” he flippantly responded.
But just as Specht got his tie back, so did Allen regain its swagger in the final four minutes. Thanks to 3-pointers from junior Jonathan Variames, who had six points, and Pozniak as well as a putback from Coleman, who had seven rebounds, the Eagles pulled to within two points.
Thanks to a closer score, tempers ran high on both sidelines late and the play got more physical.
“The game got a little out of hand toward the end,” Morgan said. “The refs were trying to let the kids play, but some of those calls have to be made.”
Allen got within one, two or three points on a myriad of occasions, but could never tie the game or take the lead in an eventual 53-50 defeat.
“Playing on the road in this district is a challenge,” Specht said. “Our guys fought hard, but when you go against the champs, you’ve got to knock them out.”
Similar sentiments about 8-5A were shared by Morgan.
“A win is a win in this district,” he said, “and we’ll take it.”
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
You must register with a valid email to post comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here:
Become a Registered User
- Return to: Plano West «
- Home «
- Top of Page ^
