TIP-OFF CLASSIC: Allens step up, lift Centennial boys past Clark in championship

Most coaches consider themselves fortunate to have one player who can direct a comeback.
If that notion holds truth, Centennial boys basketball coach Todd Allen is sitting pretty.

Propelled by a fourth-quarter offensive uprising from Stanford-bound seniors Marcus Allen and Malcolm Allen, the No. 3 Bulldogs outlasted No. 2 Clark 79-74 Saturday in the championship game of the Legacy Tip-off Classic.

“They’re like two coaches on the floor,” Todd Allen said of the twin brothers, who combined for 23 fourth-quarter points. “They understand what we have around us. They understand the process. But, you know what, they believe in their teammates, and they make everyone better.”

Down by as many as eight points in the opening minute of the fourth quarter, Marcus Allen and Malcolm Allen fueled the Bulldogs’ comeback with a series of transition baskets and a stellar performance from the free-throw line. Marcus Allen finished with a game-high 34 points, and Malcolm Allen tallied 27 points.

“We’ve been playing together our whole lives,” Marcus Allen said. “... I know when he’s going to back-door cut; I know when he’s going to alley-oop. It’s a twin thing.”

Clark overcame six second-quarter turnovers, and sophomore Carter Olsen hit a 3-pointer as time expired in the half to put the Chargers up 30-29. Centennial endured a nearly five-minute scoring drought in the second quarter.

“We told our guys (at halftime) that Clark is the best team in Nevada,” Todd Allen said. “I said if we hang around, good things are going to happen for us.”

Sir Washington, who finished with a team-high 28 points, ignited the Chargers on a 14-0 run to end the third quarter with back-to-back 3-pointers and a three-point play as Clark went up by eight.

But Centennial scored the fourth quarter’s first 10 points, highlighted by tournament Most Valuable Player Marcus Allen’s steal and two-handed jam in the open court, to go up 54-52.

The Chargers never led again, as the Bulldogs converted 16 of 18 free throws.

Junior forward Diontae Jones had 17 points and 13 rebounds for Clark.

Centennial 67, Durango 66 — Marcus Allen had 29 points and seven rebounds, and the Bulldogs and advanced to the title game when the Trailblazers missed two shots in the final seconds.

Malcolm Allen had 21 points, and Eddie Davis grabbed 10 rebounds for Centennial, which overcame a 19-9 first-quarter deficit and took a 67-66 lead on a tip-in with less than 15 seconds to play.

Durango missed a 3-point attempt and the put-back attempt before time expired.

Tyler Watts had 24 points, and Dartangan Rollins added 13 points for the Trailblazers.

Durango 77, Faith Lutheran 69 — Da’jon Streeter scored 15 of his 25 points during a 23-11 third-quarter run that boosted the Trailblazers by the Crusaders.

Watts tallied 29 points, and Rollins scored 15 for Durango.

D’Khari Hicks had 26 points, and Brenden Meyer tallied 11 points for Faith Lutheran.

Clark 50, Brea Olinda (Calif.) 40 — Washington had 14 points, and the Chargers turned a 24-15 halftime advantage into a win.

Chandler Ramos and Jason Turner each had 10 points for Brea Olinda.

Mojave 56, Sierra Vista 50 — Malik Abbott and Marcus Hines each scored five points in overtime as the Rattlers downed the Mountain Lions.

Abbott finished with 16 points, and Hines scored 11 for Mojave, which made 21 of 27 free throws, including 11 of 14 after the third quarter. Jason Wallace scored 10 for the Rattlers.

Mikko Balmes paced Sierra Vista with 11 points.

Legacy 69, Faith Lutheran 63 — Frederick Porter had 23 points, and the Longhorns broke a 46-all tie after three quarters to edge the Crusaders.

Todd Murdock added 13 points, and Donovan Gray scored 12 for Legacy.

John Molchon scored 16 points, and Hicks added 14 points for Faith Lutheran.

Legacy 74, Sierra Vista 65 — Gray tallied 24 points, and the Longhorns outscored the Mountain Lions 15-6 in overtime to pull out the win.

Benjie Harris added 15 points, and Khari Sloane scored 10 for Legacy.

DeJuan Smith had 15 points, and Giovanni Santan scored 13 for Sierra Vista, which got 10 points apiece from Balmes and Alec DeMarrias.

Canyon View (Utah) 53, Bonanza 49 — Brady Barrett led a balanced attack with 13 points as Canyon View topped the Bengals.

Cameron Ladson had 17 points, and Rio Justice Chandler scored 13 for Bonanza.

Agassi Prep 62, Bonanza 56 — Steven Jones scored five of his team’s six points in overtime to lift the Stars by the Bengals.

Jones finished with 24 points, and teammate Dennis Walker scored 15.

Ryan Glasper led Bonanza with 14 points. Chandler scored 12, and Travis Noone had 11 points for the Bengals.