TTU loses to Texas in OT

Texas Tech against Texas during the finals seconds of their overtime loss, 71-67, Saturday at the United Spirit Arena in Lubbock. (Photos by Geoffrey McAllister)

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"The demons that have haunted Texas Tech all season long wreaked havoc at the worst possible time on Saturday.

Tech led by six points with a little more than two minutes left in overtime against Texas at United Spirit Arena, but four straight turnovers — including two crippling miscues with less than 15 seconds left — doomed the Red Raiders in a 71-67 loss.

This one stung."... continue reading Nick Kosmider's story, Tech men fall to Texas in overtime, 71-67

Smyer dethrones state champs

The Smyer Lady Cats celebrate their 45-43 upset victory over defending state champs Sudan after the Region I-1A Division I girls basketball championship game at the Texan Dome in Levelland. Sudan cut a 12-point fourth quarter deficit to two points, but was unable to score in the final seconds.

Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010 (Photo by Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)
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For a story and more game photos go HERE.

Mustangs over Lady Plainsmen

Coronado's Suzzy Dimba, right, scores despite the tall defense of Monterey's 6-foot-4 Haley Schneider during their game Tuesday night at Monterey. Coronado won 56-51.

Tuesday, Feb. 02, 2010 (Photo by Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)
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Read the related article and view more game photos HERE.

tex over tech (2OT)

Texas Tech's Lady Raider basketball team led no. 19 Texas most of the game, until it counted. Texas rallied to take regulation into OT. And w/ 0:22 left in the first OT Tech led by 6 points. After a quick basket and two consecutive steals Texas took the game into 2OT where thy won 95-90. Exciting game - tough loss.
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View more game photos & read David Just's story: HERE.

couple exciting games

In the last week I've photographed a few really entertaining high school basketball games. The latest was of in-town rivals, Lubbock Monterey @ Lubbock Coronado. Coronado had a large lead in the first half that quickly disappeared in the second. The game ended in heartbreaking fashion when a non-shooting foul was called with less than 2 seconds left in the game and the score was tied at 68. Monterey got to shoot foul shots, 1 and 1. They made the first and won 69-68.

Monterey's Mikeah Mills, left, Kellyn Schneider and Sarah Radloff celebrate with their team as Coronado's Hailee Roye, right, looks at the scoreboard after missing a desperation shot at the buzzer Monday night in Coronado's gym. Monterey defeated Coronado, 69-68.


Left: Monterey's Haley Schneider, left, shoots over Coronado's Devin Griffin during their game Monday at Coronado. Schneider scored 14 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in Monterey's 69-68 win.
Right: Monterey's Toni Armstrong, left, and Coronado's Hailee Roye battle for a loose ball during Monterey's 69-68 win on Tuesday.
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A week ago I covered the championship game of the Gene Messer Shootout, a West Texas high school tournament. The home team, Lubbock Coronado, was trailing by 10 at the half but fought back for an exciting finish.

Left: Coronado's Quay Johnson, left, scores in front of Ponder's Kaleb Broadstreet after making a steal during the fourth quarter of the championship game of the Gene Messer Shootout Saturday at Frenship. Coronado won 55-50.

Coronado's Quay Johnson, center, dribbles between Ponder's Scott Gregg, left, and Kaleb Broadstreet, during the final minutes of the championship game of the Gene Messer Shootout Saturday at Frenship. Coronado won 55-50.

Lady Raiders top Lobos

Left photo: New Mexico's Valerie Kast, center, blocks a shot from Texas Tech's Ashlee Roberson, left, along side teammate Sara Halasz, right, during the second half of their game at United Spirit Arena, Saturday, December 5, 2009. Texas Tech defeated New Mexico 65-55. (Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)

Right photo: Texas Tech's Kierra Mallard, center, and Mary Bokenkamp, right, dive to the floor and steal the ball from New Mexico's Valerie Kast during the first half of their game at United Spirit Arena, Saturday, December 5, 2009. Texas Tech defeated New Mexico 65-55. (Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)
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read more on the Texas Tech Lady Raiders HERE.

Texas Tech upsets no. 10 Washington in OT

The AP called me Thursday morning looking for a shooter for the Texas Tech v Washington game. I'm glad I was available because it was a fun game to shoot. One of my favorite images has to be the last in this slideshow of Betty Doris LaRoe, a tech fan, taunting UW as they leave the court after the first half.

Red Raiders over Northwestern State

[Left photo] Texas Tech's Nick Okorie is fouled by Northwestern State's Cory Dixon, left, while driving to the basket during the first half of their game, Thursday night at United Spirit Arena. Texas Tech won 94-75.

Thursday, November 19, 2009 (Photo by Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)
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read the related story - Knight stresses defense, and it seems to be getting through

Lady Plainsmen notch first win

Swinging elbows, diving for possession, it's that time of year again - girls high school basketball.

Lubbock Monterey's Kristyn Wilson, left, and Toni Armstrong, right, swarm Frenship's MaKenna Chancellor, center, during their game Tuesday night at Monterey. Monterey defeated Frenship 54-46.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009 (Photo by Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)

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read the related story - Lady Plainsmen notch first win of year.

All-City basketball

gotta love the intro music!! :)

Over the past week I've been photographing and working on this video of the Avalanche-Journal All-City basketball teams. Of the 12 portraits, the below photograph of Krista Ford if my favorite.

Shallow victory & defeat

Texas Class 2A regional semi-final Shallowater vs Wall.


Texas Class 2A regional championship Shallowater vs Bowie.

Shallowater's girls basketball team competed in the Texas class 2A regional semi-finals and championship this past weekend in Midland. From my perspective, they played 7 great quarters and 1 lousy one. Unfortunately for them, their lousy quarter came at the beginning of the championship game against Bowie. In the fourth quarter they cut their 22 point half-time deficit to 10, but in the end they didn't have enough in the tank to pull off the comeback.

Texas A&M 79, Texas Tech 73

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As he walked off the United Spirit Arena stage after his post-game news conference, Pat Knight asked if there will be a collection for the fine he expects to receive from the Big 12 Conference.

Coaches usually draw fines when criticizing officials and Knight didn't hold back following Saturday's 79-73 loss to Texas A&M.

"I don't care right now what the Big 12 thinks," Knight said. "They tell us to send tapes in and that obviously doesn't work. Call (someone in the league office) and talk to them ... it's just tough. I don't care about me, it's my kids. My kids bust their butt and they have enough of a time playing against A&M let alone have somebody else they have to play against. I just think it's a shame. Take nothing away from A&M, but we play at home and they get 50 free throws and I have, shoot, four guys that foul out. It's just not right."

The Aggies attempted 55 free throws (and made 30), while the Red Raiders attempted 22 (and made 16). Four Tech players - Robert Lewandowski, Esmir Rizvic, John Roberson and Nick Okorie - fouled out.

A&M (19-8, 5-7) scored 19 points in the final 6:05 and only three came on field goals. The Aggies were in the one-and-one situation for the final 8:38 of the game and the Red Raiders put them in the double bonus at the 5:08 mark after picking up their 10th team foul of the half...(Continue reading Jeff Walker's article: Knight lashes out at referees after Aggies' win.)

rough saturday for Texas Tech basketball

A pass slips through the hands of Mike Singletary's (32) hands of Texas Tech as he is defended closely by Nebraska's Cookie Miller (34) and Cole Salomon (24) during the first half of a NCAA men's basketball game at United Spirit Arena, January 31, 2009.
(AP photo/Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)

Oklahoma State's Shaunté Smith, center, strips the ball from Texas Tech's Kierra Mallard, center, as Megan Byford, left, and Taylor Hardeman, right, close in, Saturday afternoon at United Spirit Arena. The Cowgirls defeated the Lady Raiders 65-60.
Saturday, January 31, 2009 (Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)
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Saturday was a rough day for Texas Tech basketball - men's and women's. The women had a hard fought battle - bringing the score to a 2-point deficit with less than 5-minutes remaining in the game, but OSU was just too much. The men were just plain old sloppy - I don't remember watching a college level team make so many careless passes. Unfortunately, because of deadline, we weren't able to capture coach Knight throwing a tantrum and getting ejected - that would have made for some interesting art.

Red Raiders pound East Central 167-115

Left: Texas Tech's Tyree Graham (3) dishes the ball around Wes Bradley (32) of East Central Thursday night at the United Spirit Arena.
Right: Texas Tech's D'walyn Roberts (5) goes up against East Central's Ian Adams (40) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at the United Spirit Arena in Lubbock Thursday night. Roberts was fouled on the play. (Lubbock Avalanche-Journal Geoffrey McAllister)
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Texas Tech’s first game of the Legends Classic may not have been legendary, but it was historic.

The Red Raiders, playing a little more than a scrimmage against Division II East Central (Okla.), nearly reached their season average in points scored - by halftime. They undoubtedly set numerous first-half records (Tech doesn’t list records by half), then shattered them in the second half.


Trevor Cook (24) scored 20 points in Texas Tech's 167-115 win over East Central (Okla.) on Thursday at United Spirit Arena.
Tech jumped out to a 77-57 halftime lead - nine points shy of its season average - and cruised Thursday to a 167-115 win in front of an announced crowd of 5,505 at United Spirit Arena... (Continue reading the related article: Raiders set record in romp)

Nash, Amaré Rally Suns

When the Suns were down by more than 20 points at the half I was pretty sure they had lost the game - boy was I wrong. "The Suns outscored the Nuggets 81-47 in the second half for their largest scoring half since 1994. Stoudemire and Nash combined for more second-half points (48) than Denver had."

"Phoenix made its greatest comeback for victory at home in franchise history, rallying from a 22-point deficit to rock US Airways Center with a rollicking rally and a 132-117 victory against Denver."
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/0331suns.html

(captions: first photo) spt-suns0401 150213 -- 03/31/08 -- Sun's Shaquille O'Neal (cq) posts up against Denver's Marcus Camby (cq) during the second half Monday night at U.S. Airways Center. -- Photo by Geoffrey McAllister/The Arizona Republic

Western Kentucky in Phoenix

Western Kentucky has made it to the sweet 16 in this years NCAA national tournament and will play UCLA at US Airways arena in Phoenix Thursday.


It's not very often I have a video assignment that has to be shot and edited in the same day - this one was shot in the mid afternoon and had to be ready for tomorrow's front page - it will refer to the video. The most challenging part was that I did not have a media credential for the games - so they wouldn't let me in with all the gear (the reporter had to shoulder the large camera bag and my two cameras) and I wasn't allowed onto the floor. And unfortunately, now that I watch it from home I notice a few glitches that i wish weren't there... but i guess i'm learning. good luck WKU - I had UCLA out of my bracket last round.

Diehard WKU fans

ncaaregional0327 -- 03/26/08 -- When asked whether they believed WKU could make it to the final-four of the NCAA Tournament Jane Jones (cq), left, quickly responded, "Of course!" while Ray (cq) seemed a little more hesitant. The Jones' are from Bowling Green, Kentucky and made the trip with the team for Thursday's matchup against UCLA in Phoenix. -- Photo by Geoffrey McAllister/The Arizona Republic

Saint Mary's v Xavier's girls hoops

Ghoops 150104 -- 02/01/08 -- Saint Mary's Ashley Hutchinson, right, snatches the ball from Xavier's Sam Burke Friday night at Sant Mary's in Phoenix. -- Photo by Geoffrey McAllister/The Arizona Republic


Ghoops 150104 -- 02/01/08 -- Saint Mary's (cq) Shapri Romero (cq) drives against Xavier's (cq) Roni Rodriquez (cq) Friday night at Saint Mary's in Phoenix. -- Photo by Geoffrey McAllister/The Arizona Republic


Ghoops 150104 -- 02/01/08 -- Saint Mary's (cq) Tyler Stephens-Jenkins (cq) shoots high above Xavier's (cq) Chrishay May (cq) Friday night at Saint Mary's in Phoenix. -- Photo by Geoffrey McAllister/The Arizona Republic


Ghoops 150104 -- 02/01/08 -- Saint Mary's (cq) Gianne Fleming (cq) dishes the ball to the perimeter against Xavier Friday night at Saint Mary's in Phoenix. -- Photo by Geoffrey McAllister/The Arizona Republic


Ghoops 150104 -- 02/01/08 -- Religious supporters at the girls game. -- Photo by Geoffrey McAllister/The Arizona Republic

No. 9 Michigan State Rallies Back to Beat no. 20 BYU 68-61

Jonathan Tavernari has a hard time retrieving a loose ball against Michigan State during the second half.
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Goran Suton, left, gets called for an offensive foul as he knocks Trent Plaisted, right, to the ground during the first half.
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Goran Suton, right, protects the ball from Lee Cummard during the second half.
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BYU's Trent Plaisted tries to rally the Cougars back against Michigan State late in the second half Saturday in Salt Lake City.
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Trent Plaisted and the Cougars are cheered by fans after a tough loss to Michigan State 68-61.

BYU men's basketball vs Jackson State

BYU's Lee Cummard (30) and Trent Plaisted (44) battle for a rebound against Jackson State during their 100-61 victory at the Marriott Center Friday.
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BYU's Jonathan Tavernari gets fouled in the act of shooting by Jackson State's Edwin Jarrow Friday night at the Marriott Center. Tavernari had 13 points on the night.
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