Allen matures to 41

Sophomore guard sets school record as Metro rolls

By Kyle Ringo
The Metropolitan

Stephanie Allen is humble.

It is an endearing quality that has earned the 5-foot-6-inch guard the respect of her teammates and coaches. But it is not the only trait, and definitely not the first, that people mention about the budding star sophomore on the Metro womenâs basketball team.

Some mention the deadly jump shot, which she uses to set up defenders only to drive past them later in the game for easy layups. Some point to her defense or quickness.

When asked to pinpoint what has enabled her to perform so well on the court, Allen stops talking hoops and delves deeper.

ãItâs maturity and commitment,ä she says matter of factly. ãI want to be good, and I want my team to be good.

ãItâs just a matter of everyone playing together. I love where Iâm at. I fit in really well. I feel like Iâm where I belong.ä

So with her comfort level in mind, and her penchant for putting up huge numbers, it is not surprising to her team, coaches and familiar fans that Allen now holds the school record for most points scored in one game.

In fact, most expect plenty of other records to belong to Allen before she is finished playing basketball as a Roadrunner.

And why wouldnât they, considering her 41-point record-setting performance Jan. 3 at home against Western State could have been much larger had she played the entire game or missed less than eight shots.

Coach Darryl Smith said he is not much of a fan of individual records, but he enjoyed watching Allen set the mark.

ãI think she only had 17 or 18 (points) at the half, but she has had that at half a bunch of times,ä Smith said.
ãShe has really matured as a player. She is so well-liked by her teammates. It was fun, and I think fun is the best thing to have.ä

She is getting used to the hype that comes with superior stats.

It is really nothing new to the 20-year-old who once scored 37 points in a game as a senior at Littleton High School. She earned a place on the all-state teams that year in both basketball and volleyball.

Then last year, as a freshman, Allen secured a second team all-conference spot while leading her team in scoring and assists, starting all 27 games.

ãI think she goes kind of how we go,ä Smith said. ãShe has had some of her bigger games against better teams.ä

Despite all she has already accomplished, Allen has bigger things in mind. She does not consider herself one of the nationâs best Division II guards, but she is working on it.

ãI think I can be in the future,ä Allen said. ãIâm not the best I can be, but I feel I will be by the time Iâm a senior.ä

And that is a humbling thought for those who have to guard her, and those whose names are no longer quite as safe in the record books.