Alma pulls away from VB in key 5A-West showdown

By Kevin Taylor

Alma Schools

First-year Alma boys basketball coach Cody Vaught got a glimpse of Alma and Van Buren’s rivalry back in late August.

Tuesday, he had a front-row seat for the Airedales’ 68-55 win over the Pointers in the first of two 5A-West clashes.

He wasn’t disappointed.

“I kind of learned what it was all about when we played them in football,” Vaught said. “Tonight, this was really special, especially in the second half. Our students were so loud that there were a couple of times we couldn’t even hear when we had the ball on our end. It’s great to have a big crowd like that.”

The Pointers (15-6, 4-1) opened up with a pair of 3-pointers and led 6-0 before the Airedales rallied to tie the game at 30-30 after one half of play. Alma then held the Pointers to just 25 second-half points as they pulled away for their third straight win.

Shep Newcomb might have been keyed up early, as he missed a couple of layups and a free throw in the first half.

But he made up for it with a 22-point second-half burst. The senior guard finished with a career-high 35 points as the Airedales took control with a 27-8 scoring blitz to secure the school’s third straight win over the Pointers - Alma’s first three-game winning streak over Van Buren since 2004-2005.

Alma took a 41-34 third-quarter lead before the Pointers countered with a 9-0 push and a 43-41 lead. Cade Moore’s basket tied the game, and Newcomb answered with a 3-pointer. He was 5-of-8 from beyond the arc and finished with five steals and five assists.

Van Buren 52, Alma 42

GIRLS - Van Buren’s Avery McDonald and Jaydin Warden combined for 29 points to help lead Van Buren to a 52-42 win over Alma in 5A-West girls action.

The Lady Aireales (9-12, 1-4) travel to Mountain Home on Thursday.

Standout Brooklynn Holt led Alma with 15 points. Olivia Hughes and Collins Driscoll finished with eight points each.

Van Buren (14-7, 3-2) overcame 17 turnovers by outrebounding the Lady Airedales, 50-31.