Chris Allen admits he is a little surprised the North Central basketball team is playing as well at it is.

But that’s nothing compared to the shock when he sees he is leading the Greater Spokane League in scoring.

“Completely,” he said. “A lot, actually. I didn’t think I would play this well this year. I hoped I would. I’m surprised how well the team is meshing, too.”

The Indians have a tenuous hold on the final playoff spot but they have reason for optimism. They have already split with co-leader Central Valley and lost twice, by a total of seven points, to Lewis and Clark, the other leader. Their loss to Ferris was by four points.

Meanwhile, Allen, a 6-foot senior guard, is scoring 18.2 points a game, just ahead of teammate Chris Blotsky’s 16.4.

“I think we all want it bad enough to go to the playoffs,” said Allen, who averaged less than eight points a year ago when NC was 4-16. “It’s just going out and giving 110 percent in practice every night and knowing I’m not doing this for anyone else but myself and my team.”

He’s done a lot of maturing,” NC coach Jay Webber said. “He has great quickness, a very good first step, and he’s able to pull up and shoot a jump shot. I think he can play at the next level.”

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