Navarro basketball: Stepping up

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January 23, 2010

Allen hits key 3s in 2nd half to ignite Navarro

By Todd Wills The Corsicana Daily Sun Sat Jan 23, 2010, 08:36 PM CST

Johnny Estelle had a message for sixth-man Greg Allen after four turnovers forced the Navarro coach to pull the freshman shooter out of the game.

“I told him a shot is better than a turnover,” Estelle said.

Allen’s role on the Runnin’ Bulldogs is to score the ball, and he wasn’t doing that hesitating his way into traveling calls in the first half.

Allen settled down after halftime, drilled two 3-pointers on a span of 78 seconds early in the period, the two pivotal shots that carried Navarro to a 68-44 victory over Blinn on Saturday at the Wolens Special Events Center.

Saturday’s game was still very much in question before Allen hit his shots. The Runnin’ Bulldogs were clinging to a 26-21 lead after Blinn went on a 7-3 run to end the first half. Navarro was struggling to score with only two 3-pointers in the first 22 minutes before Allen swished his shots from long range.

“We need him to make shots,” Estelle said. “He’s our sixth man. We need him to do something. He can’t be shooting blanks.”

Allen, who finished Saturday with 14 points, was touted as one of the Runnin’ Bulldogs best outside shooters before the season. At times he has flashed that potential, a lot of times in the second half of home games.

There have been other times where he has played like a freshman. Allen has been the focal point of an Estelle lecture during practices on a few occasions.

“For the most part I I’ve responded,” Allen said. “I’ve never had a coach that pushed me this hard in practice and in games.”

Allen struggled with his footwork in the first half. He said he was trying to get his teammates involved instead worrying about his shot. At one point Navarro’s top 3-point shooter Darian Thibodeaux stood up on the bench and shouted in Allen’s direction, “catch and shoot.”

Navarro only trailed twice in the first half and in the game, but there was never a comfortable feeling about the game in the first 20 minutes. Keith Denson gave the Runnin’ Bulldogs a 22-14 lead with a dunk with 3:47 left in the half, but Blinn had the margin down to 25-21 at halftime.

The Runnin’ Bulldogs did do a defensive number on Blinn’s Kahill McDonald, who had 49 points against Panola on Wednesday. McDonald had his moments against Navarro, but ended the night with 15 points.

Allen emerged in the second half focused and his two 3-pointers seemed to ignite the Navarro offense, something that a quality sixth-man does.

The second one with 17:45 left in the game started a 31-13 run for Navarro. Allen, Thibodeaux and Pressey all hits 3s during the stretch. Leon Gibson, who got the start Saturday, had four straight points for a 60-38 lead.

Allen played a lot of point guard in high school in Eureka, Calif, so playing on the wing has been somewhat of an adjustment.

But he’s adjusted to his role on the team.

“I’m here to shoot the ball,” Allen said.

No.15 Navarro 68, Blinn 44

Blinn 21 23 — 44

Navarro 25 41 — 68

Blinn — Kahill McDonald 15, Kendric Robinson 2, Kerry Jones 5, Marquis Tolliver 2, Kenneth Anderson 9, Torrance Timothy 3, Scott Kenny 7, Corey Green 1.

Navarro — Matt Pressey 15, Darian Thibodeaux 6, Leon Gibson III 10, Chase Harper 9, Greg Allen 14, Jourdain Allou 2, Sam Ferguson 8, Kierre Beverly 2, Darren Turpin 2.

Records — Blinn 13-7, 4-5 in conference. Navarro 16-4, 6-3 in conference.

Region XIV scores

Lamar-PA 91, Bossier Parish 76

Kilgore 55, Jacksonville 54

Navarro 68, Blinn 44

Paris 72, San Jacinto 71

Trinity Valley 78, Lon Morris 69

Panola 81, Angelina 71

Tyler at Lee, late

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Navarro College

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“I told him a shot is better than a turnover,” Estelle said.
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