‘It’s going to be fun’
Curd brothers relish time on court
By Kevin Taylor
Alma Schools
Camden Curd admits he thought about being on the same team with younger brother Carson long before they were actual teammates.
The dream has become a reality.
“It’s something I kind of knew that was going to happen, but now, to be out here and have it happen it’s cool,” Camden said. “It’s always been a lifelong dream”
Camden, a senior, had eight points and went 2-for-6 from the 3-point line in Tuesday’s 66-51 win over Shiloh Christian. Carson, a sophomore, was 1-for-3 from the 3-point line and is now 4-for-8 through his first two games.
“It’s going to be fun,” Carson said. “Just being on the same court with my brother, that’s pretty cool. Not just being out there, but being able to do something for the team and produce is going to be fun, too. I’m going to learn a lot this year just from the seniors. They’re really good leaders.”
The Curds may also see each other in the starting lineup when baseball season rolls around, too. But for now, the Airedales are locked in on a promising 2024-25 basketball season. The team returns all five starters and is hoping to repeat as 5A-West champs.
Like a lot of players, the Curds have spent countless hours hoisting shots in both Charles B. Dyer Arena and Crabtree Gym.
“It’s really cool knowing how much time we’ve spent up here shooting the basketball by ourselves trying to get better,” Camden said. “We have so many weapons, you can’t take us all away, including Carson.
Carson didn’t take long to make his impact felt. The first time he launched a 3-pointer he drew nothing but net during last week’s loss to Sylvan Hills.
The electricity from the crowd is something he won’t soon forget.
“It’s really energetic when you hit a shot and the crowd goes crazy, especially when it’s a close game,” Carson said. “But being on the same court with my brother, that’s pretty weird, too.”
Senior Miles Kendrick, one of the team’s returning starters, went 5-for-5 from the 3-point line and finished with 17 points during Tuesday’s victory. Tenacious Tyree McGill and 3-point specialist Easton Boggs both added 12 points.
Alma 57, Mansfield 56 (OT)
GIRLS — Alma girls basketball coach Chanlee Bottoms has been waiting for Brooklynn Holt to make a few shots.
Tuesday, her wish came true.
Holt scored 12 points and hit a trio of 3-pointers during the Lady Airedales’ 57-56 come-from-behind win over Mansfield. Holt’s last shot, a high-arching 3-pointer at the buzzer, capped two incredible comebacks — one during regulation and another in overtime.
“To finally win a game like on the road, in a close game, is huge for us,” Bottoms said. “We’ve been looking for that win the past year and I think that we finally got it. Our team battled back from 16 points down; they dug deep the whole time and never gave up.”
Mansfield (0-3) opened up a 32-16 lead following Kaylee Ward’s bucket early in the third quarter. Ward led all scorers with 36 points. An 11-0 Alma burst cut the deficit to 32-27.
Down 14 (30-16) at the half, Alma (2-1) outscored the Lady Tigers 25-8 in the third quarter. By the time Holt canned another trey, the Lady Airedales appeared to be cruising at 50-40 with 4:26 left in the game.
But Mansfield, keyed by the 6-foot-4 Ward, went on a 12-0 run to reclaim a 52-50 lead before Alma forced OT.
Down 56-54, Holt hit her game-winner from the top of the circle to complete the comeback.
“Not just her offense, but her tenacity on defense was unbelievable,” Bottoms said of Holt’s effort. “We had a lot of kids step up. I thought Chloe (Gregory) and Breella (Hughes) came up big. We had a complete team effort from everyone.”
Jordan Gramlich led Alma with 15 points. Daimya Parker and Olivia Hughes added nine and six points, respectively. In all, the Lady Airedales hit six of their seven 3-pointers in the final half.
It was Alma’s first road win at Mansfield since Feb. 19, 1970. The teams have now played just twice over the last 55 seasons, with the other matchup coming in 2004.