Alma girls rally past Panthers

By Kevin Taylor

Alma Schools

It’s not how you start but how you finish.

The Alma Lady Airedales refused to give in during Thursday’s 48-43 win over the Greenbrier Lady Panthers.

Despite an early hole, the Lady Airedales battled back for their second victory of the season thanks to Olivia Hughes’ big night. The sophomore scored a season-high 18 points on 7-of-14 shooting and gobbled up 10 rebounds and dished out two assists in the team’s win.

The Lady Airedales lead the all-time series with Greenbrier, 31-18. Despite no longer playing in the 5A-West, they have now played at least once every season since 2019.

Brooklynn Holt, who led Alma with 20 points in the team’s win over Mansfield two nights earlier, was held to four points on 2-of-11 shooting against Greenbrier.

Sophomores Jaeli Morris and Collins Driscoll finished with eight and six points, respectively.

Alma 72, Subiaco Academy 62

BOYS — With 3 ½ minutes left in regulation, Alma trailed Subiaco by five points (41-36), and the Airedales hadn’t scored since the two-minute mark of the third quarter.

Brody Johnson completed a four-point play with a 3-pointer and a foul shot, and Alma outlasted the Trojans in double-overtime, 72-62, at Charles B. Dyer Arena. Johnson finished with a career-high 20 points.

Shep Newcomb scored 21 of his game-high 27 points in the second half, including eight overtime free throws to help lead the Airedales to their first victory over the Trojans since Jan. 27, 1984. The two schools had met just three times since 1995-96 and 2021 before Thursday’s game.