‘We have a target’
McGill, Airedales win third straight; know the 5A-West grind is looming
By Kevin Taylor
Alma Schools
The color hasn’t changed from green and gold to red and white.
But the message is real. “We know there will be a target on our back this year,” senior Tyree McGill said following Tuesday’s 63-53 win over Pottsville.
For the first time this season, the Airedales have won three straight.
But there are still plenty of games to navigate, including the start of next month’s 5A-West schedule. Alma surprised everyone by winning 10 straight conference games last season.
This season won’t be any easier.
“We know we have a good team,” McGill said. “Guys are doing their jobs and we’ve been winning some. But we know it won’t be easy once conference starts. After last year, we won’t surprise anyone.”
The Airedales (6-4) travel to Tahlequah this weekend to face three unknown teams, and play three games without the benefit of the 35-second shot clock. Oklahoma does not use the shot clock.
Last season, after a tough nonconference slate, the Airedales rallied to beat Harrison in the 2023 conference opener. They went on to win the next nine, including its first season sweep of Russellville since 2018 — a string of years that saw the Cyclones post an 8-1 mark against the Airedales.
McGill’s 16-point effort fueled Tuesday’s win over a scrappy Pottsville team that hung around thanks to a 13-4 second-half spurt that pulled the visitors to within three (49-46).
Camden Curd (12 points), Easton Boggs (11), and Miles Kendrick (10) also finished in double figures. Curd also led the team with eight assists.
For McGill, it was his second straight big offensive effort. Last week, he scored a season-high 20 points in the Airedales’ 61-44 win over Muldrow.
Lady Airedales
Quick. What movie, song, and television show was ranked No.1 on Jan. 11, 1980?
Larry Hagman’s portrayal of John Ross Ewing Jr. in the hit television show Dallas held the top spot. Kramer vs. Kramer was No. 1 at the Box office, and Rupert Holmes’ Escape (The Pina Colada song) held steady on the Hot 100.
That same year, the Alma Airedalettes were on a 10-game winning streak that started on Dec. 8 and stretched into February.
Tuesday, coach Chanlee Bottoms and the 2024 Lady Airedales erased an early 10-0 deficit by rolling past Pottsville, 52-36, for the team’s seventh straight win — matching Alma’s seventh-straight win (38-34 over Van Buren) accomplished on Jan. 11, 1980.
Jordan Gramlich, held scoreless after one-quarter Tuesday, finished with a game-high 26 points as Alma, on the strength of an 18-1 first-half win, improved to 7-1 overall and 4-1 at Charles B. Dyer Arena.
Gramlich was 6-of-9 from the 3-point line and 6-for-6 at the free-throw line.
Alma will be tested on Thursday when they play Sapulpa, Okla. (1-3) in the first round of the Tahlequah Tournament.
Football
The Alma Airedales had several players selected all-state and all-conference this season.
Ashton Chanhnouvong and Byron Standridge were selected all-state. Chanhnouvong led the team in tackles for a second straight season and also caught 11 passes for 154 yards in part-time duty as a backup receiver.
Standridge rarely left the field and finished with 11 receptions for 111 yards and two scores at tight end.
Nine players were named all-conference, including two-way stars Israel Towns-Robinson and Landon Morris.
Towns-Robinson led Alma with 721 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. He also caught eight passes for 102 yards and added a touchdown pass to his resume.
Morris ran for 149 yards and three scores, caught five passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns, and also threw a TD pass. He was a key defender as well.
Quarterback Michael Taylor, defensive back Cash Farris, receiver Sam Schlegel, and two-way standout Brayden Polecat were named all-conference. Linemen Easton Daily, Jackson Mitchell, and Jayden Parker were selected all-conference.
Alma sophomore Daniel Rodriguez, who accounted for 54 points, including six field goals, was one of four players named honorable mention all-conference. Running back Jacob Dollard ran for 364 yards and four touchdowns, and lineman Noah Ingle and defensive standout Tim Plourde were also selected honorable mention all-conference.