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Dynamic duo: Pullum, Joseph carry Lobos past Allen
BY Chris O’Dell, codell@starlocalnews.com
LITTLE ELM -- Senior guard Biron Joseph wasn't expected to make his season debut with Little Elm until Friday.
That changed after head coach Rusty Segler was informed midway through the first quarter of Tuesday's game against Allen that Joseph was eligible to play following a 15-day waiting period since his return from Quest Academy in Las Vegas.
"We just had a total mix-up with when he would be back," Segler said.
"They made shots down the stretch and we ended up with four guys fouling out," said Jeff McCullough, Allen head coach. "We don't have a lot of depth as it is."
The Little Elm win came after a quick Allen start that saw the Eagles take a 21-11 lead late in the first behind the play of junior forward Jamuni McNease. McNease poured in nine of his 14 points in the quarter to match Lobos senior guard Devante' Pullum point-for-point.
"I told my guys that [Allen] came out and played harder than we did," Segler said. "I think they took it as a challenge and stepped up their intensity after that."
A 7-1 Little Elm run to end the frame made it a 22-18 contest entering the second.
The Lobos later pulled within two points on the opening possession of the quarter before Allen went on a 17-6 run to close the half for a 39-26 advantage at the break.
"[Pullum] said to me at halftime 'we're not going to lose this game,'" Segler said.
The two teams went back and forth in the third with the Lobos making it a 39-33 contest after a Pullum layup with 5:04 remaining. The Eagles were able to maintain their lead though and pushed it back up to 11 points before a bucket from Little Elm senior forward Shaun Grant with 21 seconds left made it 48-39 heading into the final stanza.
Pullum and Joseph took over in the final eight minutes, scoring a combined 20 points in the quarter to fuel a Lobos’ comeback.
The quarter began with a quick corner three from Joseph. Pullum followed Joseph's triple with a 3-pointer of his own to make it 48-44 with 6:56 remaining. The Lobos trimmed the deficit to one score following a putback dunk from Grant on the ensuing possession. The senior was one of three Lobos in double figures, chipping in 10 points.
Pullum posted a game-high 24 points while Joseph scored all 18 of his points over the final three quarters.
Allen was led by sophomore guard Olin Carter, who scored 16 and was one of four Eagles in double figures. McNease added 14 before fouling out in the fourth quarter.
Little Elm's comeback was complete at the 4:58 mark when Joseph scored on a breakaway dunk to make it 51-51, but Allen recaptured the lead after a pair of free throws made it 58-56 with 2:30 left.
That advantage would be the final one of the night for the Eagles.
"It's tough to execute down the stretch when you don't have all of your guys out there," McCullough said.
Late turnovers kept Allen from posing a real threat down the stretch while free throws from Pullum and Grant eventually iced the victory for Little Elm.
"[Pullum] just willed us to a win," Segler said. "He had ice in his veins on those free throws."
With Pullum going 6-for-6 at the line in the fourth, the Lobos shot 10-of-18 from the charity stripe as a team. Pullum's final free throws gave Little Elm a 66-58 advantage with 16 seconds left before Carter added a last-second three for the 66-61 final.
"It goes back to not having your guys out there," McCullough said. "We've got some help coming soon though."
The Lobos, who outscored the Eagles by a 40-22 clip in the second half, improved to 9-4 with the victory and next hit the road at 1:30 p.m. Friday to face Rowlett.
"That's going to be a fun one," Segler said.
Allen will attempt to rebound the same day when hosting Lake Highlands at 7:30 p.m.
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