FROM KEITH GROLLER
There was no heartbreaking, one-point loss this time for Allen.
After losing twice by one point to Liberty during the regular season, the Canaries made sure that Saturday night's District 11 4A boys basketball championship game didn't come down to the final horn.
Allen used a stingy defensive effort to defeat the Hurricanes, 45-35, for the program's first district crown since 2006 and the school's 18th overall.
Jalen Cannon scored 22 points and grabbed 20 rebounds and Branden Harrington tallied 11 points, including six in the fourth quarter, as Allen (22-4) put away the Lehigh Valley Conference champion 'Canes.
Liberty, bidding for its second straight district gold and third title in four years, was 6-for-25 from the field in the second half and was 14-for-51 overall.
Star player Darrun Hilliard was held to six points and was 3-for-21 from the field before injuring himself twice in the final period. The injuries were head related. The first time, Hilliard fell hard to the ground and hit his head while leaping over a press table for a loose ball.
The second time he crumbled to the ground on a drive to the basket. This injury proved to be more serious and he left the game for good with 5:55 left.
Hilliard wanted to return to play, but the coaches and medical staff wisely refused to allow him.
Dante Holmes fouled out with 3:26 left, leaving Liberty depleted down the stretch.
"We just had trouble scoring," Liberty coach Chad Landis said. "We knew we had to keep the game in the 40s, but we just didn't score."
"All I can say is seven seniors working together for a common goal is a fun thing," Allen coach Doug Snyder said. "Most of the faculty, all of the people in our school and in the community tell me that these are not only good players, but they're very nice young men. It makes it all worthwhile when you're teaching and coaching kids like these. It's what it's all about."
Both teams get the week off before returning to action in the state tournament on Saturday. Allen will play District One No. 7 Norristown and Liberty will face Roman Catholic, the No. 3 entry out of District 12.
The sites and times are expected to be released on Sunday, although it is likely that both Allen and Liberty will be playing back at Parkland.
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