5A-West showdown

The early 5A-West showdown between conference unbeatens Alma and Van Buren was another victim of the winter weather this week.

After Alma’s 59-46 win at Russellville last Friday coupled with Van Buren’s 77-61 win at home against Mountain Home on Saturday, the Airedales and Pointers were the only two teams off to a 3-0 start. They were set to play at Charles B. Dyer Arena on Tuesday in an early meeting between the two Crawford County rivals.

Instead, they will meet during the built-in conference makeup date on Jan. 30.

They put their unblemished conference records on the line on Friday when Alma travels to Greenbrier and Van Buren hosts Harrison on Saturday in another move due to winter weather.

The wins that propelled the two teams to the top of the conference were impressive.

Camden Curd drilled a three-pointer that put Alma up for good at 9-7 against Russellville.

Alma went on to lead 16-9 after a quarter, 22-16 at the half and 40-30 after three quarters in the win.

Curd finished with 16 points, Easton Boggs contributed 15 points and five rebounds, and Israel Towns-Robinson scored 14 points. Towns-Robinson has now scored 48 points to lead the Airedales in their three conference wins.

Over the past five seasons, and one game into this conference season, the Cyclones were 30-6 at home against conference opponents. It was the second win on the road for the Airedales, who opened conference play with their first win at Harrison since 2013, 59-48.

Van Buren hit 10 of its first 11 shots from the floor and jumped out to a 23-11 lead after a quarter against Mountain Home. The Pointers were 8-for12 shooting in the third quarter and increased a 3828 halftime lead to 60-46.

All five starters scored in double digits led by a season-high 28 points by Glavine McDonald, who also had eight rebounds and six assists. Trenton Cooley added 14 points, Drew Brasuell 13 points, Jaxon Cazzell 12, and A.G. Denton 10.