Erickson, Allen and Flower ignite a 6-0 run to open a 10-point lead

 
Rocket’s shift gears with a 12-2 run late in the third quarter to dim the lights and Allen’s McNease is held scoreless in the second half
Austin –  Erickson, Allen and Flowers spurred a 6-0 run to open a ten-point lead, 38-28, entering the fourth quarter and Allen’s game-high 18 points helped Converse Judson knock off the Allen Eagles 52-41 in the Class 5A State Semifinals on Friday night at the Frank Erwin Center.
With the win, the Rockets advanced to the championship game where it will meet North Shore at 8:00 P.M. Saturday at the Erwin Center.
Allen led at the half, 24-22 on McNeace’s buzzer-beating layup.
The game took on a tight third quarter, until the Eagles’ perimeter game iced up while the Rockets found its groove.
“They don’t miss a lot of easy shots,” Allen coach Jeff McCullough said.  “We missed a lot of easy shots tonight.”
Tony Allen scored a game-high 18 points and David Wacker added 11.
That’s when Erickson spotted up for a 3-pointer, Allen got behind the Eagle’s defense for an open-look, back-door basket and Flowers followed Erickson’s missed three-point attempt with a basket just before the third quarter ended to extend Judson’s lead, 38-28.
“We just had to play from behind,” explained McCullough.  “They’re a tough team. When they controlled the tempo, they controlled it all night.”
The Eagles cut the lead to ten three time in the fourth quarter but couldn’t get any closer.
Early in the fourth quarter, Judson (37-1) watched its largest lead increase to 14 points, 44-30 after Allen connected on two free throws.
“I’m so proud of these kids,” says Judson coach Michael Wacker.  “They’re a great group of young men.  We’re mature and tremendously discipline.”
The Rockets found a hole in Allen’s defense when forwards, Wacker and Tanner Leissner worked well in the low-post area with some nifty passes which caught Allen (27-9) off guard and made difficult to a makeup ground.
Oklahoma signee McNeace scored Allen’s first 11 points, outscoring Judson’s whole team in the first quarter, 11-10. Perhaps holding him to zero points in the second half, hurt the Eagles chances.
Wacker and Tanner Leissner scored Judson’s next five points, to offset McNeace’s early performance, which gave Judson a 15-11 lead with 6:55 left in the second quarter.
As the momentum shifted, McNeace sliced inside for a two-handed dunk attached with a foul.  He made good on the bonus, to give Allen a 19-17 lead with 3;30 left in the second quarter.
Jamuni McNeace poured in 16 points and 12 rebounds to lead Allen in scoring. Nick Rutherford tacked on 14 points for the Eagles.
Things heated up in the third quarter as both teams traded leads until Judson went on a 12-2 run with 1:20 left, to open a 36-28 lead.  With the score knotted at 26, Allen led the charge with seven points, including a 3-pointer and two layup to ignited the run. Following, Wacker, Julian Erickson, and Chad flowers scored baskets.
“We rebounded the ball better in the second half,” Rockets coach Wacker continued. In the first half, they got a lot of offensive rebounds.  That was the difference in the first and second half.”
 
 

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