Allens get help in Centennial victory

Marcus and Malcolm Allen scoring 55 points for Centennial is nothing knew. In fact, it’s what the twins average.

But getting 17 points from another source, that’s a big deal.

The Allens combined for 55 points on Friday, and junior guard Khalil Thompson added 17 points to help the Bulldogs to an 80-66 home win over Arbor View.

“Khalil Thompson was a big factor for us,” Centennial coach Todd Allen said. “He stepped up and hit some big shots.”

Thompson, who averaged 3.3 points entering the game, scored six points in the first quarter to help Centennial (8-1) fight off a slow start. Arbor View (8-3) started the game on a 7-2 run, but Thompson helped the team stay close, and then the Allens got the team going with some highlight-reel dunks.

Each of the twins had a pair of first-quarter dunks, and the Bulldogs closed the period on a 18-7 run to take a 22-17 lead, and they didn’t trail again.

“We feed off their energy,” Todd Allen said. “Once they get out in the open and a nice dunk gets us going.”

Centennial limited Arbor View to 4-for-21 shooting in the second quarter and extended its lead to 35-26 at the half.

“It’s really defensively that we really buckled down,” Todd Allen said. “They bought into what we wanted to do defensively, and that’s where it starts for us.”

The Allen twins combined for all 22 of Centennial’s points in the third quarter as the Bulldogs pushed their lead to 57-42. Their defense held Arbor View to 4-for-15 shooting in the quarter.

Todd Allen said his team wanted to take away Arbor View’s leading scorer, Justin Burks, who had 11 points in the first quarter.

“Burks, he’s lights out right there at the elbow, and we wanted to take him away as much as we could,” Todd Allen said. “And then kind of hope they missed some shots, and they did.”

Marcus Allen finished with 28 points, eight rebounds and four assists, and Malcolm Allen had 27 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two steals.

Undersized post player Austin Turley added nine rebounds. The 6-foot Turley was the team’s quarterback during the football season.

Todd Allen was especially pleased with he performance of Thompson, Turley and he rest of the players not named Allen.

“The major thing is the confidence around the Allens,” Todd Allen said. “They’re starting to step up, and they’re starting to buy in.

“The Allens believe in their teammates so much. That’s the key, and it makes everybody better.”

Burks had 21 points and 14 rebounds to lead Arbor View. Brandon Hill scored 14 points, and Charles Porter and Terrell Butler each had 10 points and eight rebounds for the Aggies.