Matt Allen is putting together a stellar freshman campaign for the Gatewood boys’ basketball team.
The 5-foot-11, 140-pound guard led the Gators in scoring last week in two key region victories over Piedmont Academy (60-54) and Brentwood Academy (63-52).
“Man, I will tell you what, that freshman Matt Allen has put us on his back,” Gatewood head coach Don Keiser said. “I can’t say enough (good things) about him.”
The Gators were able to leave Monticello with a six-point win over the Cougars on Tuesday thanks to Allen’s 16-point second-half effort in the league opener for both teams. Overall, Allen scored a team-high 23 points against Piedmont Academy. A pair of sophomores, Kaden Keiser and Harrison Kelly, each added 10 points in the road win.
“Matt just started putting us on his back,” Keiser said. “I thought we played well, but things just didn’t go our way. They (Piedmont) were hitting shots. It’s almost like we lose our minds when we go there (to Monticello) and play. It always happens.”
Gatewood and Piedmont were notched at 39 heading into the fourth quarter, but the Gators’ depth down the stretch proved to be the difference in the victory. The Allen-Keiser-Kelly trio was able to hit some big-time shots while also playing sound defense in the final minutes to shut down Piedmont’s talented shooters.
“My assistant coach sums it up the best. He says when we go to Piedmont it’s like we forget how to play basketball,” Keiser joked. “But we got the win, and a win is a win.”
Allen again carried his team on Friday night at home against Sandersville’s Brentwood Academy. He scored a team-high, season-high and career-high 28 points against the Eagles. Allen totaled 12 points in the first half and added 16 points in the second half, powering the Gators to their second-straight region win as they improved to 15-3 overall.
Gatewood senior Jackson Morris contributed 13 points, followed by junior Blake Callaway, who had a double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds on Friday.
“Blake was coming from nowhere to rebound,” Keiser said. “That 28 from Matt, though. It helped us tremendously. Kaden, who is my son, also added seven points.”
The Gators outscored Brentwood in all four quarters of the game. Despite a slow start in the first period, they led 9-7 and never looked back in their double-digit win.
“Yes, sir,” Keiser said when asked if he expected this much production out of Allen. “He works so hard. He puts in so much time and has got a lot of ability. The sky is the limit for this kid … Matt’s been our leading scorer for most of the season.”
Allen is averaging around 18 points per game as a ninth-grader. He also has totaled 20-plus points in Gatewood’s last four contests, with all being victories.
“I don’t think people realize that he can be something special,” Keiser said. “Well, actually, he is something special right now, and he works at it so hard. He puts in the time. Basketball is his only sport (right now). He plays AAU (basketball) all year long.”
The Gators continued GIAA Region 2-AA competition this week with a road game on Tuesday against Westminster Christian (2-16, 0-2 Region 2-AA).
They will host Piedmont Academy (5-13, 1-1) this Friday at home for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off on Senior Night.