This year’s Coach Varner Tip-Off Classic commenced with matchup pitting 4A team vs. 4A team. Allen’s Laurens assembling got the better of its adversaries from Greer by virtue of a 44-18 victory. Allen placed 17 points on the scoreboard to begin her senior campaign in Raiders green and gold. Laurens built a 24-10 edge over Greer at halftime – Allen outscored the Yellow Jackets by herself with 13 at the break. She not only gave the Yellow Jackets problems with her scoring and playmaking ability in the interior, but the 5-foot-7 veteran was difficult to score on in close proximity to the basket as well. The good looks at the basket she was getting throughout the contest also caused problems for Greer. 

By claiming a top-four spot in its Region 1-AAAA, the Raiders of Laurens were able to secure a berth in the 4A state playoffs. Allen proved in her sophomore season that she was ready for the high school game and built upon that in her junior campaign in 2024-25. She wore the green and gold Laurens colors on 23 occasions this past season and averaged 13.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.2 steals a contest. Allen led the team last season in steals and was second on the Raiders roster in a number of other statistical categories. Expect Allen to be the focal point of all things Laurens in 2025-26. 

Allen’s 4A Laurens assembling made an emphatic statement on Saturday morning against defending 2A runners-up Landrum. The Raiders put forth a dominant 59-26 outing against the new-look Cardinals and Allen led the charge by tallying 21 points in the Raiders victory. A key element of the Raiders’ strategy for victory was to make things miserable for Landrum in the interior and Allen helped massively in that effort. Her scoring capabilities combined with what she can get accomplished as a rebounder make Allen a double-double possibility on a game-by-game basis. She averaged 10.8 points, seven rebounds and 1.8 steals as a sophomore and Saturday’s game is an indication she is poised to build on what she got done last season.