‘Let’s not be scared’
Lincoln’s message, late surge lifts Alma to its first outright 5A-West crown since 2012
By Kevin Taylor
Alma Schools
The human drama unfolding Friday night in Mountain Home had people on the edge of their seats. And it wasn’t just Alma players and fans who may have been a little nervous.
Van Buren players and fans were paying close attention to Alma’s game as well.
Then, like Superman putting on his cape, Carmani Smith answered the bell. And so did his teammates.
Smith hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 46 seconds left in regulation and added two key free throws and another bucket in overtime to pace Alma to a 65-53 win over Mountain Home, helping the Airedales clinch their first 5A-West title since 2011-12.
Alma junior Carmani Smith scored 9 of his 11 points in the final 2:28 of regulation and overtime to help the Airedales clinch their first 5A-West title since 2012. The Airedales also became the first team to win 13 conference games, eclipsing the 2005, 2011, and 2012 teams that finished 12-2.
“We’re gritty, we’re tough, and they just never give up,” Alma coach Dominic Lincoln said. “To see them battle and fight back in the second half, against a very good Mountain Home team on the road, and do what they need to win.”
The Airedales trailed 46-39 with 2:28 left in regulation before outscoring the Bombers 26-7 the rest of the way. Israel Towns-Robinson’s 3-point play cut the deficit to three, and two more Towns-Robinson free throws sliced the Bombers lead to 49-48.
Alma (20-9) will meet White Hall (14-15) on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. in the first round of the 5A state tournament in Searcy.
Smith finished with 11 points, seven dimes, and four rebounds.
Once Alma got to overtime, Lincoln told his troops the game was theirs to win.
“I told them during the timeout to calm down; that you’ve worked your butt off to be here,” Lincoln said. “I told them, ‘Let’s not be scared, let’s not be timid, let’s go and play our style of basketball.’
“They did that and I was proud of them.”
Smith put Alma ahead for good (55-53), and Easton Boggs added a 3-pointer moments later to put the Airedales in front by five. Camden Curd’s baseline jumper extended the lead to seven.
Boggs was 4-of-8 from the 3-point line and finished with 16 points to pace Alma to its school-record 13th conference victory.
Alma previously had won 12 league games in 2005 and 2011-12. The 2009 and 2013 teams each won 11 conference games.
Sophomore Rhett Gilbert led Mountain Home (20-10, 8-6) with 21 points, including five of Mountain Home's nine 3-pointers.
Mountain Home 59, Alma 25
GIRLS - The Alma Lady Airedales closed out the 5A-West season with a 59-25 loss to Mountain Home Friday.
Coach Chanlee Bottoms will lose two seniors to graduation, Makinley McCartt, and Kylie Poole, while returning three starters and several underclassmen.
Jordan Gramlich finished the season strong with another 14-point effort. She scored 64 points over her final three games to add to her career scoring a total of 993 points.
She needs seven points to become the fourth Alma player to reach 1,000 points. Babette Dotson is the all-time leading scorer, with Thurranda Blanton second and the aforementioned Bottoms third.