HANCEVILLE, Ala. – Wallace State volleyball’s Wallace State men’s basketball coach Allen Sharpe has achieved 400 career wins.
The Lions registered a 68-52 road victory against Coastal Alabama-North on Thursday night, delivering the milestone win for Sharpe in the team’s Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) opener.
Sharpe has compiled a career record of 400-180, spanning three programs in now his 20th season. Sharpe has racked up 152 career wins at Wallace State, covering two stints. He coached the Lions from 2005-2010, assembling a 136-30 mark. Sharpe’s 2007-2008 team earned a No. 1 national ranking after a 30-0 start, and he guided the program to its first conference tournament championship in 2010.
Sharpe left his first stint from Wallace State for the University of Arkansas at Monticello, and he also coached at the University of West Alabama before returning to Hanceville last season.
“A milestone like this is a cumulation of good players and coaches who have been beside me throughout the years. A coach is only as good as his players. As coaches, we may not appreciate the milestones as we should because we’re concerned about practice and making sure the team is ready. I’m blessed to have been able to hang around the game as long as I have,” said Sharpe, who played collegiately at Lipscomb University under legendary coach Don Meyer.
Wallace State, which improved to 5-0, surged out to an early lead against the Eagles and controlled a 43-20 cushion at the half.
Three Wallace State starters finished with double figures. Jaylen Lemons had 22 points and seven assists, Kuran Garner contributed 15 points and six rebounds and Miguel Miranda added 13 points.
Bruce Guy pitched in with eight points off the bench for the Lions and Myson Lowe had six.
The Lions host Birmingham-Southern’s JV team on Sunday at 4 p.m. after the women host Meridian (Miss.) CC.
“We’re off to a good start, and I believe we’ve improved our talent level. Our goal is to be one of the best defensive teams in the league, and our guys have bought into that,” Sharpe said. “If we can stay healthy, the pieces are in place to make a run for the league championship.”
Women’s game
Wallace State 67, Coastal Alabama-North 56
Wallace State’s women rallied from a seven-point halftime deficit, securing the road victory at Monroeville in the ACCC opener.
Wallace State sophomore guard Destiny Garrett poured in a team-high 18 points and dished out four assists and Payton Golden finished with 15 points, seven assists and five rebounds.
Gloria Pounders had nine points and five rebounds for the Lady Lions, Jordan Parker finished with seven points and nine rebounds and Jazymn Jackson added six points off the bench.
Wallace State, which didn’t attempt any 3-pointers, trailed 20-13 at the end of the first quarter and by a 37-30 margin at the half. The Lady Lions cashed in on a 20-7 third-stanza surge to seize control.
For more information about Wallace State athletics, visit www.athletics.wallacestate.edu or the athletics Facebook page at www.wallacestate.edu/athleticsfb.
