By Cort Reynolds
PLAIN CITY__The Allen East girls basketball team made the long trip to face a new foe in Div. II Jonathan Alder on Martin Luther King Day Monday afternoon, January 15.
Down a point late, Mustang junior standout guard Rilynn Jones scored a layup with 10 seconds left to provide the go-ahead basket and eventually win the hard-fought contest by a 48-45 count.
After her basket AE then helped force a turnover on an illegal screen, and Jones was fouled with two seconds remaining. She hit two clutch foul shots to ice the game and give her a game-high 25 points.
A full-court heave try to tie it at the buzzer by the hosts was not close.
The Mustang girls improved to 10-2 with the win, while the Pioneer girls fell to 7-7 after the loss.
“I thought we battled well,” said AE head coach Aaron Mongomery. “Especially down the stretch and in the second half.
“Rilynn attacked the rim with purpose, which really opened up the offense for us,” he continued.
“I am proud of them for sticking with the game plan and executing down one with 10 seconds to go to get us a bucket and stop right after, and to hit two free throws and ultimately win the game,” he added.
AE led 15-13 after the first period as the speedy Jones poured in 11 points.
Senior post Soraya Jackson netted nine first half points to help the Mustangs stay ahead 24-21 at intermission.
“I thought their length and size bothered us in the first half, and made things challenging,” said Montgomery.
Senior wing Savana Brooks sank three baskets in the third stanza to help keep AE on top 35-31 heading to the final period.
Jones sank two foul shots and three two-pointers in the fourth quarter, while Brooks splashed a key triple, to seal the win.
Jackson tallied 11 points to support Jones. Brooks netted all nine of her markers in the second half.
“I thought it was a good environment and nice trip to play someone we haven’t seen and who hasn’t seen us,” Montgomery summed up. “It was a good trip for our chemistry, and a good way for the girls to spend more bonding time.”
Evan Platfoot led JA with 20 points behind four triples. She netted 12 points after intermission. Avery Murdock added 13 markers.
AE canned 15 deuces and four treys. The Mustangs converted six of 13 foul shots (46 percent).
Alder sank 11 two-point goals and hit five triples. The Pioneers converted eight of 12 free throws (67 percent).
AE (1-2 NWC) plays at league leader Crestview (12-1, 4-0 NWC) Thursday evening.
“We will have to be ready to play from the tip after another long road trip,” said Montgomery. “We have to do a better job executing offense and being more efficient offensively.
“We have to try and contain (Cali) Gregory as much as we can,” he added regarding the returning Co-NWC Player of the Year. Gregory scored 30 points in a win at AE last season.
JA 45 (7-7)
Tanferl 0 1-2 1, Dietrich 1 0-0 2, Platfoot 7 2-2 20, J. Murdock 1 0-0 2, A. Murdock 4 4-6 13, Walker 3 0-0 6, Timberlake 9 1-2 1.
Totals: 11-5/8-12/45. 3-pointers: Platfoot 4, A. Murdock 1.
AE 48 (10-2)
Jordan 0 0-0 0, Payne 0 0-0 0, Brooks 4 0-2 9, Jones 9 5-6 25, Young 0 0-0 0, Richardson 1 0-0 3, Jackson 5 1-5 11, E. Miller 0 0-0 0, D. Miller 0 0-0 0.
Totals: 15-4/6-13/48. 3-pointers: Jones 2, Brooks 1, Richardson 1.
1 2 3 4 F
JA 13 8 10 14 45
AE 15 9 11 13 48
