Second-quarter surge lifts Alma by Greenwood, 86-66

By Kevin Taylor

Alma Schools

When Greenwood’s Arthur Thomas buried a 3-pointer on the first possession of the second quarter Tuesday night, the upstart Bulldogs were in the midst of an 18-8 run.

But it didn’t last long.

Sparked by Sheppard Newcomb’s big first half, Alma took control of the game with a 13-0 burst and led by as many as 27 before cruising to an 86-66 win in 5A-West play.

It was a special night for first-year coach Cody Vaught, too, who surprised his team following the birth of his fourth child earlier in the day. 

“I wasn’t going to go, but she (wife Kimberly) told me I needed to be there,” Vaught said.

One by one, players embraced their coach before the opening tip. “That was really special,” he said. “We’re a family.”

Alma used an early 9-0 run to build a quick six-point lead before the Bulldogs rallied for an 18-17 lead. The Airedales fell behind 21-17 early in the second before Newcomb and Co. went to work, orchestrating a 26-7 burst to close the half.

Newcomb finished with a career-high 34 points, with Lawson Adams and Carson Curd adding 14 and 11, respectively, and Luke Stogsdill and Brody Johnson added 10 and nine points.

The Lady Airedales dropped an 83-52 decision to Greenwood. Brooklynn Holt had a team-high 24 points for the Lady Airedales.

Alma (JH) 28, Siloam Springs 25

GIRLS - Taylen Workman hit a key 3-pointer to help the Lady Airedales hold on for a 28-25 win over Siloam Springs Thursday. 

Workman finished with 10 points. Bristol Welch, who had five points, scored to give Alma a 24-14 lead after three quarters. Eden Hamilton added a fourth-quarter free throw after Siloam Springs had closed to within two.

Hallie Morris and Bryleigh Moore added six and four points for the winners. Harper Workman had two points.

Alma 30, Siloam Springs 28

GIRLS - Heidi Watkins capped off her 13th birthday with the best present of them all - a game-winning layup with 2.3 left that carried the Lady Airedales’ eighth-grade team to a 30-28 victory. 

It was Watkins’ lone basket of the game.

Conlea Van Matre’s six points helped Alma build a 23-6 halftime cushion. Van Matre finished with a team-high nine points. Hallie Morris had five points, and Bryleigh Moore and Kallie Rogers finished with four points. 

Ali Whitworth’s basket gave Alma a 28-22 lead, but the Lady Panthers tied the game at 28. Siloam Springs stole the ball with 8.9 seconds left, but Watkins picked off an errant pass and raced to the other end of the court for the game-winners.

Siloam Springs 45, Alma (JH) 44

BOYS - Alma dropped a one-point decision to Siloam Springs on Thursday.

Aiden Kimes led Alma with 19 points. Aiden Caldwell added nine points, and Jake Johnson and Barrett Curd finished with six each.

The Airedales were without the services of top scorer Nate Risley. 

Jaxon Loyd played well off the bench with seven rebounds, coach Eddie Corder said.