By Cort Reynolds
McGuffey - Host Upper Scioto Valley edged traditional foe Ada 43-40 in their annual non-conference boys basketball rivalry battle Saturday night.
The purple and gold drop to 2-10 with the difficult defeat, while the Rams improve to 9-2 with their sixth consecutive victory.
Ada trailed 16-10 after the first period, but surged ahead 23-22 at halftime. USV inched in front 32-31 heading to the final period of play and hung on for the close victory.
"Costly turnovers in the fourth quarter and (shooting) 0-6 from the free throw line cost us," said Ada second-year head coach Dre White. "We didn't do the things down the stretch in order to put away a good team.
"(But) it was a good effort against a very good team," White noted. "It is something to build on."
The Bulldogs out-rebounded the Rams, 33-19. Ada junior post Connor Frazier yanked down 11 boards to lead all players, and also passed out three assists.
Senior guard Ethan Swaney paced the Bulldogs with 11 points and two steals. Sophomore wing Phillip Coulson netted nine points and junior guard Cade Mullins added eight.
Junior Wayne Lowery led USV with 11 points and six caroms. Junior guard Brady Hipsher contributed nine markers and classmate Wyatt Daniels added six on a pair of triples.
Senior 6-7 post Seven Williams scored six points in his Ada debut after sitting out the first half of the season due to transfer rules.
"Seven played well," said White. "He got in some foul trouble early. He was excited to play and did better when he relaxed."
Ada connected on 14 of 29 two-point field goal tries (48 percent) and drained four of 12 three-pointers (33 percent). Overall, they connected on 18 of 41 floor shots (44 percent).
The Bulldogs made four more baskets than the Rams but missed all six of their free throw attempts.
USV sank 14 of 40 shots from the field (35 percent), including 10 for 29 on two-pointers (34 percent) and four of 11 beyond the arc (36 percent). The Rams outscored Ada from the foul line, 11-0.
Ada committed 15 turnovers to nine miscues by USV.
The Bulldog junior varsity won big 62-29 to improve to 7-3.
Ada 40 (2-10)
E. Swaney 5-0-11, Mullins 3-0-8, Frazier 3-0-6, Coulson 4-0-9, Williams 3-0-6.
Totals: 18-41/0-6/40. 3-pointers (4-12): Mullins 2, E. Swaney 1, Coulson 1.
USV 43 (9-2)
Oglesbee 1-0-2, Lowery 4-2-11, D. Thompson 1-1-4, Daniels 2-0-6, Overs 0-1-1, Hipsher 1-7-9, Sanders 5-0-10.
Totals: 14-40/11/47. 3-pointers (4-11): Daniels 2, Lowery 1, D. Thompson 1.
1 2 3 4 F
Ada 10 13 8 9 40
USV 16 6 10 11 43
JV: Ada 62, Ada 29.
Ada (2-3 home) hosts league foe Crestview Friday, January 19 in an attempt to end an eight-game losing skid. The Knights (8-3, 3-0 NWC) are on a four-game win streak while Ada is in 1-1 NWC play.
"We have a tough game Friday to get back into conference play," said White. The Knights whipped Arlington 76-36 Saturday and are 2-2 on the road. Their losses came to Van Wert, Ft. Jennings and Ottoville by a combined total of 20 points.
The Bulldogs then entertain winless county foe Hardin Northern (0-10) Saturday, Jan. 20.
