By Cort Reynolds
LIMA - Visiting Ada raced to a huge early lead and rolled past Lima Temple Christian 89-50 in non-conference boys basketball play Saturday night.
The Bulldogs built a 24-4 lead after the first period, and stretched the margin to 45-19 by halftime. Ada won the second half 44-31 to post their highest-scoring game of the season as 11 players scored.
"Early on we were able to force them into some turnovers and get the tempo where we wanted it," said Bulldog fourth-year head coach Dre White. "We shared the basketball and got the shots we wanted.
"It was a challenge for our guys to remain focused and continue to take steps forward after a huge win the night before over Lincolnview," he continued.
"I was proud that we were mature and focused enough to do what we needed to do."
Ada improved to 9-12 overall with its second victory in as many nights. Meanwhile, LTC fell to 0-21 with the defeat.
Bulldog junior playmaker Brandon Hull led all scorers with 27 points. Senior wing Phillip Coulson netted 16 markers, and senior post Ty Miller added a career-high 12 points.
Bulldog senior post Jake Rayl led Ada to a huge 48-16 advantage on the glass with 10 rebounds.
"Overall, it was a very good weekend for our program," White summed up. The Bulldogs won two games and averaged 81.5 in the victories. In both wins, Ada started strongly and posted a 24-point first quarter.
Joshua Engle led the Pioneers with 24 points and five triples. Teammate Preston Patrick added 19 points.
The Bulldogs canned 39 of 67 shots overall from the field (58 percent). Ada sank three of 18 from beyond the arc (17 percent) and hit on a white-hot 36 of 49 two-point attempts (73 percent).
The Bulldogs converted eight of nine from the foul line (89 percent), while the Pioneers canned 12 of 17 shots from the charity stripe (71 percent).
LTC connected on 15 0f 42 field goal tries overall (36 percent). The Pioneers made seven of 27 two-point attempts (26 percent), but connected on eight of 15 trifecta tries (53 percent).
Ada committed just nine turnovers, while LTC was charged with 15 miscues.
The Ada reserves also won the undercard 56-42 to improve their record to 10-8.
Ada 89 (9-12)
Swaney 2-1-5, Ennis 2-1-5, Hull 11-5-27, Coulson 7-0-16, Rayl 3-0-6, Cook 1-0-3, C. Murphy 3-0-6, Miller 6-0-12, Conley 3-0-6, Wall 0-1-1, E. Murphy 1-0-2.
Totals: 39-67/8-9/89. 3-pointers (3-18): Coulson 2, Cook 1.
LTC 50 (0-21)
D. Engle 0-1-1, J. Engle 7-5-24, Callahan 2-0-6, Patrick 6-6-19.
Totals: 15-42/12-17/50. 3-pointers (8-15): J. Engle 5, Callahan 2, Patrick 1.
1 2 3 4 F
Ada 24 21 24 20 89
LTC 4 15 15 16 50
JV: Ada 56, LTC 42.
Ada hosts top-ranked league-leader Columbus Grove (21-0, 7-0 NWC) in the season and conference finale Friday, February 21.
"I am very excited for next weekend," said White. "It is another huge challenge for our guys and I am excited for them. It's not often that you get the number-one ranked in the state to come into your gym."
Grove has only played one game that ended up closer than 10 points all season, a 42-40 overtime win at Jackson Center Feb. 8.
