By Cort Reynolds
ADA - Visiting Ridgemont nailed 10 three-pointers en route to a 77-39 victory over county rival Ada in non-league girls basketball action Monday night.
The purple and gold fell to 4-11 with the defeat, while the Lady Gophers improved to 10-6 with the win.
Ridgemont placed four players in double figures and pulled away with a 13-2 second period run that led to a 17-point halftime margin. The Bulldogs never got closer than 17 in the second half.
"We have to get out on the shooters better," said fourth-year Ada head coach Bill Taflinger, whose team played a 2-3 zone. "Ridgemont hit some three's, and then that opened up the inside. They are quick and got some long rebounds and easy baskets, too."
Ada pulled within 18-12 when freshman Miranda Wills rattled in a 12-footer with seven minutes left in the first half. Yet the Gophers took command by pressing and scoring in transition with Bulldog junior point guard Raina England sidelined by a twisted ankle.
Gopher guard Faith Jenkins nailed a trey and a breakaway layin to key the run. Wing Shaylee McGrath stole the ball and cruised in for a layup. Senior Priscilla Howland drilled a foul line jumper to cap the 11-0 flurry.
Ada senior Maddie Gossard stopped the run with two foul shots to make it 29-14. But then Gopher sophomore Nadia Martino banked in a trifecta from out top, followed by a left corner triple from senior Shauna Richardson.
Soph Jen Jordan then stole the ball and drove in for a layup for a 37-16 bulge. Gossard buried a left wing trey, followed by two Howland free throws.
Senior Anney Archer swished a right corner trey, and classmate Teara Coulson splashed a triple from the left wing to give Ada a spark and cut the deficit to 14.
But Jordan answered by banking in a 25-foot trey from the left side at the buzzer to regain the momentum and send Ridgemont to intermission on top, 41-24.
The speedy Jordan's fast break layin opened the second half. Gossard bounced in a 16-footer, yet senior Meadow Cromer nailed a 13-footer. Jordan canned a long trifecta for a 48-26 Gopher cushion.
A 9-0 Ridgemont run extended the lead to 52-26 before Wills knocked down a 12-footer. Cromer sank a follow shot to make it 54-28 heading to the final period.
"No one could buy a basket in the third quarter," Taflinger noted as Ada was outscored 13-4 in the period. "We just didn't shoot well."
Archer's basket started the fourth well for the hosts, but Ridgemont ran off eight unanswered points to lead by 32. A Gossard triple stopped the spurt.
Gophers Richardson and Journee Roeder sandwiched three-pointers around a corner trey by Archer. Ada post Ashleigh Rush banked in a triple, followed by another three off glass by Martino.
The visitors outscored the Bulldogs 23-11 in the fourth period.
Ridgemont led 5-0 early but trifectas from Gossard and Archer helped Ada grab its only lead at 8-7. A left-handed three-point play inside by Howard gave the Gophers the lead back for good.
A Jenkins trey helped the green and gold lead 16-10 after the first stanza, and they never were headed after the 13-2 run in period two.
"That run with Raina out injured really hurt us," Taflinger agreed.
Ada connected on just 15 of 56 from the field (27 percent) and sank seven treys. The Bulldogs shot only four foul shots, making two.
Gossard led Ada with 16 points and eight rebounds. The hustling Wills also grabbed eight caroms. Archer contributed 11 points with three triples.
Jordan topped balanced Ridgemont with 14 points. Howland tallied 13, Martino scored a dozen and McGrath added 10. Cromer netted nine and Jenkins added eight.
The Gophers sank 22 two-pointers among their 32 field goals, and converted three of five from the charity stripe.
The Bulldogs committed 16 turnovers to nine errors by the visitors.
The Gophers also won the JV contest, 21-9.
Ada 39 (4-11)
Gossard 6 2-2 16, Coulson 2 0-0 5, Archer 4 0-0 11, England 0, Wills 2 0-2 4, Rush 1 0-0 3, Light 0, Waugh 0.
Totals: 15-56/2-4/39. 3-pointers: Archer 3, M. Gossard 2, Coulson 1, Rush 1.
Ridgemont 77 (10-6)
Jenkins 3 0-0 8, Rader 1 0-0 2, Roeder 1 0-0 3, Martino 5 0-0 12, McGrath 5 0-0 10, Howland 5 3-5 13, Cromer 4 0-0 9, Jordan 6 0-0 14, Richardson 2 0-0 6.
Totals: 32/3-5/77. 3-pointers: Jenkins 2, Richardson 2, Jordan 2, Martino 2, Roeder 1, Cromer 1.
1 2 3 4 F
Ada 10 14 4 11 39
Rmont 16 25 13 23 77
JV: Ridgemont 21, Ada 9.
Ada (0-4 NWC, 1-7 home) hosts underrated league foe Paulding (4-12, 1-4 NWC) Thursday night. The Lady Panthers upset second-place Delphos Jefferson 53-51 Jan. 18 to earn their first league win.
"Paulding has some big girls and some good guards," Taflinger warned. "They are better than their record. The league is pretty balanced this year."
