For Allen, a 5-foot-5 junior, the only question was when.
Wednesday night, she emerged with clutch baskets and strong floor play as the visiting Blazers upended cross-town rival River Ridge, 67-60, in a nonleague game.
“She’s been hanging back,” Timberline coach Zandrea Edenstrom said of Allen, who played forcefully throughout. “Tonight, she lit the fire.”
River Ridge coach Jackie Robinson said his Hawks (3-2) still have growing to do as they pursues their goals of a league championship and returning to the Class 2A state tournament.
“You learn from this and you move on,” he said. “I told them to hold their heads high. Timberline hit some tough shots and made their free throws.”
Allen, who scored 16 points, and the senior Weber, who led all scorers with 23 points, were catalysts for the Blazers during two key stretches.
The first, midway through the second quarter, was a 12-2 Timberline run that pulled the Blazers from a seven-point deficit to a 28-25 lead. Weber hit on a left-handed scoop shot, a putback of her own miss, a 3-pointer and a free throw after her steal. Allen had only two points in the run, but her hustle play on a loose ball that resulted in a breakaway layup ignited her team.
The second stretch was in the decisive fourth quarter. Weber’s over-the-head putback gave the Blazers a 55-51 lead, then the teams traded a barrage of 3-point baskets: Kyahri Adams hit for River Ridge, Franchesca Borja hit for Timberline, and Necy Wade answered for the Hawks. Allen calmly swished a pair of three throws to put the Blazers up 60-56, and another pair of free throws with 20 seconds on the clock secured the victory.
Becky Clayton added 13 points for Timberline, and Borja chipped in seven.
River Ridge was led by seniors Adams (19 points) and Wade (17). The third veteran for the Hawks, senior Samira McDonald, had five points but was credited by Robinson with an intelligent presence on the floor. The Hawks got solid post play from 5-10 sophomore Rebecca Stevenson, who scored six points.
Edenstrom said the victory was Timberline’s first in River Ridge’s gym. The Blazers (4-2) meet Inglemoor in a home nonleague game Dec. 29. River Ridge hosts Wilson on Saturday.
