By Cort Reynolds
ADA - Visiting Waynesfield-Goshen rode a strong first quarter to a big lead and went on to post a 45-28 win over Ada in non-league girls basketball action Tuesday night.
The Lady Bulldogs fell to 1-19 with the defeat, while the Lady Tigers improved to 6-14 with their second win at Ada this season.
Converting on several early turnovers, W-G jumped to a 20-7 lead after the first period and never led by less than 13 points the rest of the way.
"Waynesfield is quick and scrappy," said first-year Bulldog head coach Morgan Bass. "I thought Megan Light did well. Kirsten Poling attacked well, and Brenna George did a lot of little things right like blocking out."
Tiger guard Jordan Elliott drained a right corner trey to break a tie and give W-G a 5-2 lead they never relinquished.
Ada sophomore post Megan Light sank a short bank shot but Cassidy Craig and Rylie Barrington canned consecutive baskets to put W-G ahead, 9-4.
Feisty Bulldog sophomore Miranda Wills banked in a 17-footer from the left wing, yet Peyton Spencer drilled a triple to ignite a Tiger spurt.
W-G's Kayla Wicker sank two foul shots and teammate Megan Barden hit a follow-up layin. Wicker then stole the ball and laid it in to help the blue and gold lead by 13 at the quarter break.
Wicker drove through the Ada zone down the lane for a successful scoop shot to open the second stanza. Wicker then splashed a right wing triple for a 25-7 cushion.
Light stopped the 16-1 Tiger run by knocking down a short shot.
Sophomore Alexis Waugh split two foul shots and Wills canned two charity stripers to inch Ada within 25-12.
But a driving banker by Wicker put the visitors ahead 27-12 at intermission as both teams went scoreless the final 2:44 of the half.
Light's post-up layin began the third quarter well for the hosts. But an Elliott trifecta from the top of the key gave W-G a 31-14 lead.
Ada freshman Kirsten Poling anticipated the passing lane well to make a nice steal, and converted a coast to coast driving layin. Wicker answered with a layup as the low-scoring period ended with the Tigers on top, 33-16.
Wicker scored on a drive to open the final stanza. Wills hit a foul shot, followed by a fast break layup from Kiarra Roof. Southpaw Waugh made a strong drive on the left baseline for a deuce, yet Roof canned a 12-footer.
Elliott then buried a right side 17-footer with 5:07 remaining. Poling sank a driving shot in the lane off glass, followed by another Elliott field goal.
Waugh stole the ball and canned a short banker to spark a 7-0 Ada flurry. Poling and Wills each hit a foul shot, and Light sank a short stickback banker to cut the deficit to 43-27 with 1:05 left to play.
Waugh converted one of two free throws, and Barden tossed in a layup at the buzzer to provide the final margin.
Light led Ada with 10 points. Wills, Waugh and Poling each netted six points.
Wicker topped all scorers with 15 points while Elliott added 10 markers.
The Tigers sank 15 two-point goals and four trifectas. W-G canned three of six (50 percent) from the charity stripe. Ada canned nine field goals, with no treys, and converted 10 of 20 (50 percent) at the foul line.
Waynesfield won the first meeting 44-25 in the third-place game of the Border Battle tournament at Ada Dec. 29.
Ada 28 (1-19)
Wills 1 4-8 6, Poling 2 2-5 6, Light 4 2-2 10, Waugh 2 2-5 6, George 0, Phillips 0, Blankenship 0.
Totals: 9/10-20/28. 3-pointers: none.
W-G 45 (6-14)
Roof 2 0-0 4, Elliott 4 0-0 10, Wicker 6 2-2 15, Spencer 1 0-0 3, Barrington 1 1-2 3, Barden 3 0-0 6, Craig 2 0-2 4.
Totals: 19/3-6/45. 3-pointers: Elliott 2, Wicker 1, Spencer 1.
1 2 3 4 F
Ada 7 5 4 12 28
W-G 20 7 6 12 45
No JV game.
Ada (0-7 NWC, 1-10 home) hosts tough league foe Columbus Grove (14-5, 5-1 NWC) Thursday, February 14 in the home and league regular season finale. CG trails co-league leaders Bluffton and Spencerville (6-1 NWC) by half a game.
There will be no JV game Feb. 14, and the varsity will tip off at 6 p.m.
