Holt, depth help Lady Airedales power past Lady Tigers, 59-31

By Kevin Taylor

Alma Schools

Alma girls basketball coach Chanlee Bottoms has had a vision for a while now. Tuesday night, it came to fruition.

A quick, deeper lineup she envisioned last summer was more than even Mansfield’s Kaylee Ward could handle.

Brooklynn Holt scored 11 of her game-high 20 points in the second quarter to help lead Alma to a 59-31 win over Mansfield in the team’s home opener.

A two-time all-state standout, Ward had just 11 points, including six late points for Mansfield (1-1).

The Lady Airedales (1-3) travel to Greenbrier on Thursday.

Alma led 11-6 after one quarter before Holt stretched the lead to 11 (17-6) with an old-fashioned three-point effort and a 3-pointer. Baskets by Collins Driscoll (10 points) and Violet Watkins stretched the lead to 21-8.

An Ellyse Wright bucket made it 30-14.

In all, 11 different Lady Airedales scored — Holt, Driscoll, Jaelie Morris, Olivia Hughes, Madie House, Breella Hughes, Haven Baxter, Ryleigh Floyd, Lauren Burdick, Watkins, and Wright.

Alma’s bench outscored Mansfield’s backups 16-1.

Morris had six points and two assists, four steals, and a career-high 10 rebounds. Two-year starter Olivia Hughes added four points, four rebounds, three assists, and two steals.

Up 50-21 after three quarters, Mansfield scored the first nine points of the fourth quarter before House’s three-point effort and baskets by Morris and Floyd made it 58-29.

Alma was 8-of-12 from the foul line and 7-of-23 from the point line.

Mansfield missed 12 free throws (11-for-23) and went 0-for-7 from beyond the arc.

Shiloh Christian 70, Alma 65

BOYS — Shiloh Christian’s Duke Bowman scored 23 points, including 5-of-11 from the 3-point line, to power Shiloh Christian to a 70-65 come-from-behind win over Alma Tuesday, the Airedales’ first loss of the season.

Bowman, a senior, added nine rebounds and six assists.

The Airedales led 53-50 after three quarters and were ahead, 55-52, when Bowman hit a 3-pointer to spark a 14-run that put the Saints ahead for good.

It was Shiloh Christian’s first-ever win over the Airedales after eight losses.

Shep Newcomb led Alma (2-1) with 31 points, seven rebounds, and three assists.

Luke Stogsdill added 10 points, and Lawson Adams and Carson Curd finished with eight points each.

The Airedales host unbeaten Subiaco Academy (6-0) on Thursday.