By Cort Reynolds
FT. JENNINGS - Visiting Ada lost its second tough road game on basketball's opening weekend at Fort Jennings 50-39 in a non-conference boys basketball contest Saturday night.
The purple and gold fell to 0-2 with the away defeat, while the Musketeers improved to 1-1 with the victory.
Ada trailed 13-7 after the first period, and inched within 21-16 by halftime. But FJ outscored the Bulldogs 29-23 in the second half.
"It was not the result we wanted, but I can't fault the effort," said Bulldog third-year head coach Dre White. "A slow start cost us again, but the kids fought.
"I saw some growth out of our leaders that I was very proud of. If we can continue to see that and work to find a way to generate some offense, we will be fine. We have a long season (left) ahead," he added.
Connor Frazier was the lone Bulldog in double figures with 11 points. The senior big man also grabbed seven of the 19 Ada rebounds.
Bulldog senior guard Cade Mullins scored eight points while junior wing Phillip Coulson added seven markers.
Nick Trentman of Fort Jennings led all scorers with 16 points. Senior Reese Von Sossan tallied 13 points and junior Carson Kazee added 11 for the Musketeers.
Ada connected on 17 of its 42 field goal tries (40 percent), including four of nine treys (44 percent) and 13 of 33 inside the arc (39 percent). The Bulldogs canned just one of six foul shots (17 percent).
FJ sank 15 of 29 shots from the field (52 percent), including four of 10 on on treys (40 percent), and converted 16 of 24 foul shots (67 percent). The Musketeers hit on 11 of 19 two-point attempts (58 percent).
Ada committed only seven turnovers.
The Bulldog junior varsity won its season-opening game over FJ, 36-26.
FJ had lost its opener at home to Arlington Friday night, 59-41.
Ada 39 (0-2)
Z. Swaney 2-0-5, Mullins 4-0-8, Frazier 5-1-11, Hall 0, Coulson 3-0-7, Hull 1-0-2, Cook 2-0-6, Gautier 0, Paul 0, Miller 0.
Totals: 17-42/1-6/39. 3-pointers (4-9): Cook 2, Coulson 1.
FJ 50 (1-1)
Von Sossan 3-7-13, Kazee 5-1-11, Ricker 2-1-7, Hoersten 1-1-3, Trentman 4-6-16.
Totals: 15-29/16-24/50. 3-pointers: Trentman 2, Ricker 2.
1 2 3 4 F
Ada 7 9 12 11 39
FJ 13 8 13 16 50
JV: Ada 36, FJ 26.
Ada hosts Kalida (0-1) Friday, December 7 in the Bulldog home opener. The Wildcats lost their only game of the opening weekend to New Bremen this past Friday in overtime, 52-51.
The Bulldogs also entertain Ottoville Saturday, Dec. 8 in another non-league home game next weekend. The Big Green (1-0) whipped Temple Christian 70-47 in their opener and will visit Columbus Grove Dec. 7.
