Alma junior girls, boys celebrate big seasons
By Kevin Taylor
Alma Schools
Alma junior girls basketball coach Angela Rushing can’t wait to watch her 2023-24 squad the next few seasons at the high school level.
Alma girls coach Chanlee Bottoms can’t wait, either.
“Coach Bottoms told them they know how to win and that the senior high group will teach them how to work as well,” Rushing said. “We didn’t play our best game tonight, but you have to give them (Farmington) a lot of credit, too.”
As the final seconds ticked off the clock, with Alma dropping a 47-26 decision to Farmington, Rushing and point-guard Olivia Hughes embraced near Alma’s bench. Rushing may have Hughes back for one final tour in 2024-25, but she said she can’t wait to watch Anna Swarnes, Faith Sartor, Lauren Settle, and Jaeda Cahoon, among others, grow into high school players next season.
Alma finished the 2023-24 season with a solid 16-6 record.
“We have nothing to hang our heads about. We finished 16-and-6, and were 34-and-9 over the last two years,” Rushing said. “This is a very special group. It’s going to be fun to see them play in senior high and as they advance to their senior year. This group is tough to let go of, but I can’t wait to watch them at the next level.”
Farmington 29, Alma 27
BOYS - The hard part about junior high is falling too far behind with a shortened clock.
That proved to be the culprit in Thursday’s 29-27 loss to Farmington in the finals of the River Valley-Northwest Arkansas conference finals at Greenwood High School.
The Airedales (19-4) erased a seven-point (19-12) third-quarter deficit by tying the game at 21-21 early in the fourth, only to see the Cardinals reel off six straight points.
“With their eighth graders moved up, they’re (Farmington) a different ballclub,” Alma coach Eddie Corder said. “I told them before the game we just need to go out and compete and get after it. I give Farmington credit, they competed and they played hard. We didn’t make plays when we needed to.”
Alma’s biggest flaw was its poor free-throw shooting. The Airedales finished 4-of-10 from the line in Thursday’s loss. Alma shot just 34 percent (11-of-32) from the field and made just 1-of-9 3-point shots.
Carson Curd and Drake Ciampoli finished with eight points apiece. Luke Stogsdill, the team’s leading scorer (11.2), was held to six points on 1-of-4 shooting.
“In the grand scheme of things, this game doesn’t define our season,” Corder said. “We’re going to celebrate our season. It’s been a great year and a great group of kids.”