By Cort Reynolds
ADA - Brothers Hunter and Thomas Phillips combined for 39 points to lead visiting Kenton to a lopsided 73-40 win over Hardin County rival Ada in non-league boys basketball action Saturday night.
The defeat dropped the Bulldog record to 3-13, while the Wildcats improved to 9-6 with the victory.
Hunter Phillips scored 20 of his game-high 25 points in the first half on repeated drives, while Thomas added 14 markers.
Kenton led just 17-14 after one period of play as Hunter scored 15 points, but the Wildcats blew the game open with a 24-4 second stanza and were never threatened thereafter.
"The second quarter wasn't good," admitted Ada first-year head coach Dre White. "Their pressure took a toll - it is no secret we struggle against pressure. We have to get stronger with the ball.
"Kenton got off 20 more shots than us due to the turnover difference," he continued. "Hunter is a good player, but I thought we could have done a better job on him. Give him credit, he got to the basket about anytime he wanted."
Ada committed 29 turnovers compared to just nine by the Wildcats.
The Bulldogs shot 16 of 36 from the floor (44 percent), converted five of 10 at the charity stripe and hit on three of eight from three-point land.
The Wildcats made exactly half of their field tries (28 of 56) but canned just 14 of 29 at the foul line (48 percent). Kenton hit three of 11 beyond the arc.
The visitors out-rebounded Ada, 25-20. Connor Frazier topped the purple and gold with five rebounds.
Ethan Swaney, Frazier and Jordan Bailey each scored 10 points to pace the Bulldogs.
"Connor has stepped up the last two games and played well," said White. Our rebounding has to get better."
The game was played with both teams wearing orange socks to commemorate Teen Non-Violent Dating Night, sponsored by the Hardin County Family Safety Coalition, Quest FCU and Everhart Trucking. Small orange basketballs were also donated and thrown into the stands by cheerleaders for fans throughout the second half.
Kenton also won the reserve game, 56-43. Bulldog Phillip Coulson tossed in 22 points to pace all scorers.
Ada 40 (3-13) Conley 1 0-0 3, Bailey 4 1-2 10, Swaney 4 1-2 10, Conrad 0, Evans 1 0-0 2, Mullins 1 0-0 2, Frazier 5 0-0 10, Hoschak 0 1-2 1, Klingler 0, Light 0 1-2 1, Hall 0 1-2 1. Totals: 16-36/5-10/40. 3-pointers (3-8): Bailey 1, Swaney 1, Conley 1.
Kenton 73 (9-6) Rush 5 2-3 13, Donnelly 6 1-4 13, Sharp 1 1-2 3, Hites 2 0-0 4, H. Phillips 10 5-12 25, T. Phillips 4 4-4 14, Fackler 0 1-2 1. Totals: 28-56/14-29/73. 3-pointers: T. Phillips 2, Rush 1. 1 2 3 4 F Ada 16 4 11 9 40
Kent 17 24 18 14 73
JV: Kenton 56, Ada 43.
Ada (1-7 road) visits another county rival in Hardin Northern (2-13) Saturday, February 4. The Polar Bears have lost 11 in a row since a 2-2 start. Ada has dropped 10 of its last 11 after a 2-3 beginning.
"We can't turn the ball over and we have to play 32 minutes, not just two or two and a half quarters," said White.
