T-Birds turn back Red Devils

IOLA — After enjoying smooth sailing through the first two quarters, things got little bumpy for the Cloud County Thunderbirds in the second half.
Cloud County led Allen County Community College 37-17 at halftime.
The Red Devils used a 20-8 run to open the second half to cut the deficit to just six points, 43-37.
Cloud County pushed the lead back to 16 points, 57-41, in the third quarter only to have Allen County climb back within five points.
The T-Birds were able to knock down enough free throws over the final 1:32 to lock up a 68-62 Jayhawk Conference East Division road win Thursday night.
“Any win is a good win in the conference, especially on the road,” Cloud County coach Brett Erkenbrack said, “I thought we did a quite a lot of good things in the first half. Unfortunately in the second half we were tentative on both ends of the floor and let them get back in the ballgame at the end.”
Cloud County, 14-7 overall, improves to 7-5 in conference play with the win.
Allen County falls to 3-17 overall and 1-9 in the East.
Trailing 4-2 in the early going, the T-Birds went on a 15-2 run to go on top to stay, 17-6.
A short jumper by Trinity Tillis late in the first quarter and a three-point basket by Gabby Guzman early in the second pulled Allen County within six points, 17-11.
Sophomore Scout Frame scored 13 points as Cloud County outscored the Red Devils 17-2 over the next eight minutes to extend the lead to 34-13.
Frame led the T-Birds with 21 points and grabbed a career high 19 rebounds.
Guzman made one of two free throws for Allen County, but Chase Siedlik answered with a three to give Cloud County its biggest lead, 37-14.
A long three by Guzman as time ran out in the first half left the Red Devils trailing 37-17.
Allen County, knocking down two threes and connecting on eight of eight free throw attempts, opened the second half with the big run to pull within six points, 43-37, when Jakira Wilson went two of two from the line for 3:28 to play in the third quarter.
It was the bench to the rescue for Cloud County.
Mikaela Meyers scored inside for the T-Birds.
Wilson made two more free throws, and it was a 45-39 game.
Meyers scored on consecutive possessions and reserve guard Maeson Dewey hit a jumper to give Cloud County a 51-39 advantage.
“Maeson and Mikaela each gave us a good lift off the bench again,” Erkenbrack said.
Allen County got a basket by Paige Jensen in the closing seconds of the period to make it a 51-41 game.
The T-Birds scored the first seven points of the fourth period to go up 57-41 when Frame completed a three-point play with 5:40 remaining.
The Red Devils wouldn't go away.
A 12-1 spurt pulled Allen County within five points, 58-53.
Frame scored inside and Kamryn Collins and Siedlik combined to go three of four from the free throw line to push the T-Birds' lead to 63-53 with 52 seconds on the clock.
Allen County would bury three three-point baskets in the final 44 seconds, but the T-Birds went five of six from the line to hang on for the win.
“We have to completely decide that we're going to play harder or its going to be a struggle night in and night out. It's as simple as that,” Erkenbrack said, “We must play harder, then good things will happen. We're struggling with that right now, and hopefully we will snap out of it and get going again.”
Siedlik scored 10 points for Cloud County.
Cassidy Haufler and Chiara De Virgilio added 10 points each.
Guzman tossed in 23 points for Allen County. Ariel Walker scored 12 and Wilson added 10.
Cloud County hosts Independence Community College on Saturday night.