PREP BASKETBALL Alma tops Heritage in overtime

ALMA -- Taelon Peter got a steal and then a roar from the crowd with a dunk for Alma to start overtime, and the Airedales didn't look back after that Tuesday night at Charles B. Dyer Arena.

"He was waiting for that one he got that steal and finished," Alma coach Stan Flenor said. "He is a pretty explosive kid. He can do a lot of those. Those help the momentum a lot. You don't see dunks like that often. The crowd got behind us."

Peter, a junior guard, finished with a game-high 23 points to help Alma complete a come-from-behind 59-52 victory against Rogers Heritage. Peter had a team-high eight points in overtime as well.

Heritage (4-5) was led by senior Tyler Furuseth's team-high 17 points, including three 3-point baskets in the initial quarter of the game. Jason Kimball also added 12 for the War Eagles.

Alma (6-1) trailed 25-15 at halftime but then outscored Heritage 15-13 in the third quarter to cut the advantage to 38-30 heading into the final quarter.

"Our performance showed [in the first half]," Flenor said. "We came out in the second half and played like we needed. We shared the basketball. We are pretty solid we do those things."

Alma was able to take its first lead since scoring the game's opening points with free throws from Bobby Winfrey. The Airedales then tied the game at 45-45 with 45 seconds left on a 3-pointer from Winfrey.

Each team had two possessions at the end of end regulation but couldn't come away with points to break the tie.

"We found a way to win," Flenor said. "I wasn't very nice at halftime. I challenged them, and then they played well in the second half. This is a game we'll learn from with a lot of teachable moments."

Alma got the initial points of overtime with the dunk from Peter and didn't look back after that to hold on for the victory.

"It came down to our guys needing to be more focused," Flenor said. "We didn't play defensively at all in the first half. We gave up some easy baskets and didn't play well together as a team."

Tanner Shelton finished with 12 points for Alma, while Winfrey added 10 as well for the Airedales.

Heritage was able to jump out to a 15-8 edge in the initial quarter of the game with hot shooting from Furuseth, who scored 11 of the team's points in the quarter.

Alma 59, Rogers Heritage 52 (OT)

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Rogers Heritage (4-5): Furuseth 17, Kimball 12, Clines 7, Ingram 7, Carpenter 6, Paxton 3.

Alma (6-1): Peter 23, Shelton 12, Winfrey 10, George 8, Whalen 4, Mann 2.

Girls

Alma 47, Rogers Heritage 43

Alma got a three-point play from sophomore Ariel Towns-Robinson to take back the lead with 24 seconds left in the game then held on after that.

Towns-Robinson, who finished with a game-high 20 points, made a basket and was fouled then sank the free throw to take a 46-43 lead. Rogers Heritage had a 3-point attempt go in and out on its following possession.

"This was a good win against good competition," Alma assistant coach Paige Jones said. "You can't ask for anything better than that in nonconference play. We are trying to get ready for a tough stretch."

Alma (4-3) held a 34-28 lead heading into the final quarter, but an 8-0 run to open the quarter from Heritage capped by free throws from Maddie Lyge tied the game at 36-36.

The Lady Airedales opened the quarter with three consecutive turnovers and missed the front end of one-and-one free-throws twice in the quarter.

"We missed some free throws down the stretch where it could've been easier on us," Jones said. "But we took care of the ball when we needed to. We settled down after some turnovers early. We made some big plays after that."

Heritage (3-6) was led by Danielle Dickerson and Sydney Kinnamon each scoring a team-high 12 points. Cassidy Cooper added 16 for Alma.

Alma 47, Rogers Heritage 43

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Rogers Heritage (3-6): Dickerson 12, Kinnamon 12, Pabon 9, Knight 6, Lynge 4.

Alma (4-3): Towns-Robinson 20, Cooper 16, Kelly 4, Dowdy 2, Mata 2, Higgins 2, Villines 1.

Sports on 12/19/2018

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