Heritage Holds Off Alma

— Alma grabbed a five-point lead early in the fourth quarter, but Rogers Heritage didn’t fold Friday night.

Junior Crist Olsen hit a pair of big 3-point shots, then the War Eagles canned 5-of-6 free throws in the final 1 minute, 20 seconds to help Heritage claim a hard-fought 49-47 nonconference win at Airedale Arena.

Heritage coach Tom Olsen said his team again showed great poise to win their third consecutive road game.

“We’ve been in situations, down in the fourth quarter and some good teams have given us some good licks and we’ve gotten back off the mat and finished the game,” Olsen said. “Just another great job by a great bunch of kids tonight.”

Crist Olsen’s 3-pointer from the corner gave Heritage a 44-40 lead with 2:12 left in the fourth quarter. The War Eagles (9-3) then spread the floor and Alma (8-2) was forced to foul.

Three different War Eagles made free throws in the final 1:20 as Heritage held on for the win.

Alma coach Stan Flenor credited Heritage with good execution in the fourth quarter.

“Our press was able to have some success in the second and third quarters,” Flenor said. “But late they got the ball in their shooters hands. Heritage did an outstanding job.

Olsen acknowledged his team played extremely well together again to win a close game. The War Eagles also played strong defense, limited Alma to just 12 points in the first half and four in the second quarter.

“The resiliency with this team is really something,” Olsen said. “They just don’t seem to get flustered. We kinda go with the philosophy if they don’t score, we can’t lose no matter what we’re doing offensively.”

Luke Fryauf, a 6-2 senior, led a balanced Heritage scoring attack with 13 points. But Olsen added nine on three 3-pointers, while Hayden Greenway and Xavier Thomas chipped in eight apiece.

Brock Widders finished with a game-high 14 points, including eight in the fourth quarter for Alma. Gage Jensen chipped in 12.

Heritage will now be off for until it opens 7A/6A-West Conference play at Fayetteville on Jan. 4.

ROGERS HERITAGE 49, ALMA 47

Heritage 9 8 12 20 — 49

Alma 8 4 16 19 — 47

Rogers Heritage (9-3): Fryauf 13, Olsen 9, Greenway 8, Thomas 8, Jones 5, Kinnamon 2, Robbins 2, Hirsh 2.

Alma (8-2): Widders 14, Jensen 12, Fokerts 7, Anderson 6, Candelaria 3, Lee 2, Campbell 2, Harris 1.

Girls

Rogers Heritage 58, Alma 43

Brittany Ward poured in a game-high 21 points, including 10 of 11 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter, to help the Lady War Eagles pull away for the win.

Heritage (7-3) used a 13-0 run in the first half to fashion a 30-26 halftime lead, then turned up the defense in the second half.

Lady War Eagles coach Kevin Ramey liked his team’s defensive intensity in the second half, particularly 6-foot senior Ellen Lundy.

“I thought they did a good job of penetrating and getting in the lane,” Ramey said. “Second half I thought Lundy was really a factor. She harassed them. Her intensity was the difference. We’re still trying to put four solid four quarters together. I thought we really played well in the second half.”

Ashley Ward added 15 and Emilie Jobst 12 on four 3-pointers for the Lady War Eagles.

Robin Stewart led Alma (2-8) with 18 points.

The Lady War Eagles will now be off until Dec. 27 when they take part in the Battle at the Brier in Greenbrier. Heritage opens the tournament against Searcy at 4 p.m.

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