By Cort Reynolds
PAULDING - Host Paulding raced to an early 23-point lead and made it stand up in a 63-40 win over Ada in Northwest Conference boys basketball action Friday night.
The purple and gold drop to 3-13 overall and 1-3 in the NWC with the defeat. The Panthers improved to 6-8 and 4-1 in league play after the victory.
Ada fell behind 27-4 early in the second period and trailed 42-20 at halftime. After intermission, the Bulldogs were outscored only 21-20.
Twenty-nine percent field goal shooting and 26 turnovers helped doom the Bulldogs.
"We went over there and did exactly what we talked about not doing - we came out flat," said Ada second-year head coach Dre White. "We opened up and got down 23, which held up to be the final margin.
"Overall, I am am very disappointed, as I felt we took a step backwards as a whole," he continued.
Senior Seth Conley scored a career-high 13 points and also grabbed five rebounds to lead Ada in both categories.
"I am proud of some of our young guys who came in and played with a great deal of effort after we came out flat," said White. "I am very proud of Seth Conley, who played his heart out. Other guys need to follow suit going forward."
Cold-shooting Ada connected on 11 of 34 two-point field goal tries (32 percent) and hit on just one of seven three-point attempts (14 percent). Overall, they connected on 12 of 41 floor shots (29 percent).
The Bulldogs converted 15 of 25 from the foul line (60 percent), and both teams grabbed 32 rebounds.
Paulding sank 23 of 53 from the field (44 percent), including 16 for 37 on two-pointers (43 percent) and seven of 16 beyond the arc (44 percent). The Panthers canned 10 of 15 from the foul line (67 percent).
Paulding committed 16 turnovers, 10 less than Ada. Panther Jaret Miller led the victors with 12 points, while Marcus Miller netted 11.
The Bulldog junior varsity lost a close game to the Panthers 48-44 to fall to 9-5.
Ada 40 (3-13, 1-3 NWC)
E. Swaney 0-1-1, Frazier 1-2-4, Coulson 3-1-7, Conley 5-3-13, Hollinger 1-0-3, Hall 0-1-1, Jordan 1-0-2, Hull 0-4-4, Amburgey 1-1-3, Zimmerly 0-2-2.
Totals: 12-41/15-25/40. 3-pointers (1-7): Hollinger 1.
Paulding 63 (6-8, 4-1 NWC)
Shull 0-2-2, Manz 1-0-3, M. Miller 4-2-11, Dobbaleare 1-3-5, Rhonehouse 3-2-8, J. Miller 5-0-12, Cook 3-0-8, Howell 4-0-9, Bradford 1-1-3, Baldwin 1-0-2.
Totals: 23-53/10-15/63. 3-pointers (7-16): J. Miller 2, Cook 2, M. Miller 1, Manz 1, Howell 1.
1 2 3 4 F
Ada 4 16 12 8 40
Pau 20 22 12 9 63
JV: Paulding 48, Ada 44.
Ada (0-7 road) visits Hardin County foe Kenton (8-5, 6-2 home) Saturday evening, Jan. 27.
"It is a big challenge," said White. "Kenton took a tough Van Wert team to overtime Friday. I am looking for 32 minutes of effort from our guys."
