QBL MEN'S PLAYER OF THE WEEK GOES TO BEN ALLEN

After sinking more than 30 points in each of his two matches over the weekend, and helping his team to victory twice, Ben Allen from the Ipswich Force is the men’s Player of the Week for Round 13. Allen hit the court against Bundaberg on Saturday night, putting up 35 points at 66.7 percent in the field, sunk three out of his four attempts at the perimeter, and secured four from four foul shots. 12 of his points, including two three-pointers, were in the final quarter, helping the Force to get back out in front and secure the match, with scores locked at 71-all with eight minutes to go. The forward/centre swingman also dominated on the boards, taking 15 rebounds including 12 defensive, in addition to one steal and two assists, in the 90 – 80 point win over the Bulls. Allen then backed it up the following day in Gladstone, racking up 36 points at 61.1 percent in the field, and 82.4% at the free-throw line, hitting 14 out of his 17 foul-shots. He also brought down 20 rebounds, 19 of those in defence, had two steals and three blocks.

Allen’s efforts over the weekend were well above his current season averages of 17.5 points 12.4 assists, and 1.9 assists per game, but has performed consistently well for Ipswich throughout the season, and is one of the league’s leading rebounders, currently sitting third in the rankings.The Melbourne product joined the Force at the start of the 2012 QBL season, recruited from the Townsville Heat by incoming coach Shane Heal, the 209cm player adding extra presence in the post for the Force this season. In 2011, Allen shot an average of 11.5 points per game, at 42.9 percent, as well as 5.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. Allen’s career began in 2004 when he was selected to the AIS, playing for the side in the ABA for two years, and included in the Under 18 national team in 2004, and the Under 21 national team in 2004 and 2005. He competed at the Under 21 World Championships in Argentina in 2005. He then travelled to the United States, playing for Indiana University from 2005 to 2007, before moving to St Mary’s College of California in 2007 until 2010, where he averaged 10.7 points and 7.6 rebounds per game in his final season. Allen also competed at the World University Championships in Bangkok in 2007, and the World University Games in Belgrade in 2009. . He was selected for the NCAA West Coast Conference All-Tournament Team in 2010 after St Mary’s took out the WCC Tournament in the same year. Allen then returned to Australia and was signed to his current NBL team the Townsville Crocodiles, reaching the semifinals with the Crocs in 2011 and 2012.



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