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Allen uses 14-0 opening run to crush Spring Dekaney and reach 5A Region II finals

WACO – Before Spring Dekaney could figure out the bounce on the Ferrell Center rims, it was in trouble.

While Dekaney went scoreless for the first six minutes, Allen jumped out to a 14-point lead and never looked back – going wire-to-wire in a 69-38 win in the Class 5A Region II tournament at Baylor University.

“We knew they weren’t going to be able to match up with us inside, so we could get out quick,” Allen guard Nick Rutherford said.

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Allen entered the playoffs without a playoff win since 1983.  It will play for its first trip ever to the University Interscholastic League’s state tournament at 6 p.m. Saturday, facing the winner of Richardson Berkner and Humble Atascocita.

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“Our kids aren’t scared of anybody right now,” Allen coach Jeff McCullough said. “They are playing with a lot of confidence and are doing things that have never been done at our school.”

Allen (26-8) and Dekaney (22-13) were the both third-place seeds from their respective districts, the only regional tournament in any classification with two such seeds.

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But Allen – from the hyper-competitive District 10-5A, with Plano West and Plano East – looked the role of a playoff heavy. Despite committing seven first-half turnovers, Allen pestered Dekaney, holding them to mid-range jumpers and 3-point attempts.

Allen hit nearly as many 3-pointers (five) as Dekaney did total field goals (six) in the first half, as Dekaney shot just 27 percent from the field.

Rutherford led Allen with 19 points and five assists, while Olin Carter added 14. Adrian Hardy and Jailein Allen scored nine for Dekaney.

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Allen center and Oklahoma signee Jamuni McNease turned up the defensive pressure in the third quarter, getting three blocks during the period. C.J. Winzer and McNease started the fourth quarter with back-to-back dunks, as Allen doubled Dekaney’s point total.

Allen 16 17 14 22 – 69

Spring Dekaney 6 9 9 14 – 38

Allen: Olin Carter 14, Jamuni McNease 6, C.J. Winzer 6, Myron Fisher 11, Nick Rutherford 19, Kris Griffin 2, Blake Williams 9, Greg Little 2.

Spring Dekaney: Joseph Kilgore 6, Jailein Allen 9, Dervyn Baines 6, Aaron Cephus 2, Adrian Hardy 9, Everett Barrow 2, Michael Williams 2, Chris Marsh 2.