Wire-To-Wire  

Holt-led Lady Airedales hold on for a 43-39 win to match first 3-1 start since 2010-11 campaign

By Kevin Taylor

Alma Schools 

Slow starts have been an issue for the Alma Lady Airedales since coach Chanlee Bottoms' playing days. 

Thursday, Alma held on to beat previously unbeaten Greenbrier, 43-39, to match its first 3-1 start since the 2010-11 season.— and only the second 3-1 push since Bottoms' senior season of 2004-05. 

Sophomore Brooklynn Holt hit a game-winning 3-pointer to cap a comeback win over Mansfield earlier in the week and hit another big trey with 1:26 left to play in Thursday's game to help hold off the Lady Panthers. It was the 48th all-time meeting between the two on-and-off conference foes. 

Alma leads the all-time series, 30-18. 

“I think we did really good tonight. I think our defense really is what won the game,” Holt said. “I think we’ve got to get a little better on offense. (But) I’m really excited for our future.”

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. 

Alma trailed 30-16 at halftime and then led 50-40 before falling behind, 52-50, with 29 seconds left in regulation. 

“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.”

Alma (3-1) hadn’t previously opened 3-1 or better since starting 4-1 in 2010-11. They were 6-0 at the start of Bottoms’ senior season at Alma in 2004-05. They were also 3-1 in 2003-04, 2002-03, and 1993-94. 

The Airedales’ boys team split a pair of games. Miles Kendrick had 17 points during the team’s 66-51 win over Shiloh Christian, but the Airedales were just 1-of-16 from the 3-point line in a 56-34 loss to Nettleton. 

It was Alma’s first battle with the Raiders since beating them in back-to-back state tournament games in 2002-03.