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franklin county times
PHOTO BY BART MOSS Surrounded by her family and coaches, Kallie Allen signs to play college ball at Wallace State.

Bobcat girl signs for basketball at Wallace State Community College

Phil Campbell point guard and shooting guard Kallie Allen signed a basketball scholarship with Wallace State Community College in Hanceville last week.

Allen, a 5-foot-eight guard, is beginning her senior season for the Bobcats, where she has played since her sophomore season after transferring from Russellville.

“It’s been a dream to play college basketball since I was a kid,” said Allen. “I felt at home at Wallace State, and I developed a strong bond with the coaching staff from day one.”

In two seasons at Phil Campbell, Allen has averaged 13 points per game, scoring 395 points at a sophomore and 397 points as a junior.

Allen is not just a scorer, however, getting the job done in other facets of the game. She has 142 career steals, averages 5.8 rebounds per game and leads the team in assists.

“Kallie is an all-around good player,” said Phil Campbell coach Craig Thomas. “She can play anywhere on the court, and she is a floor leader. She has a great basketball IQ and is great to have from a coaching standpoint.”

Allen helped lead the Bobcats to the state semifinals in the past season, where they eventually lost to Samson. She earned regional MVP honors that year with a dominating performance over Cold Springs in the regional finals.

“Kallie has all the intangible qualities a coach would want in a basketball player,” said Thomas. “She will do well at the next level.”

According to the program’s website, Wallace State women’s basketball “has carved out a winning tradition. The Lady Lions have won six ACCC/Region 22 conference championships and advanced five times to the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I tournament.”

The team was among the top conference contenders during the 2018-2019 season, finishing with a 24-7 record and surpassing the 20-win plateau for the seventh time in eight seasons.

Wallace State women’s basketball coach is Jessica McBrayer.

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