By Cort Reynolds

ADA - Visiting Van Buren used three big runs to defeat Ada 65-26 in a non-conference girls basketball game Monday evening.

The Bulldogs fell to 1-6 overall with the loss, while the Lady Black Knights improved to 5-4 following the win.

VB raced to a 10-0 lead and later authored runs of 18-2 and 16-0 en route to posting the victory.

"They killed us on the boards," said first-year Ada head coach Morgan Bass. "We struggled to get shot opportunities. But I was proud of our effort."  

After a slow start, Ada fought back to within 12-5. Sophomore post Megan Light canned a layup and a foul shot. Freshman guard Kirsten Poling bounced in a left side 15-footer.

But VB netted a short bank shot and Zoe Horne buried a right wing triple just before the buzzer to extend the lead to 17-5 as the opening stanza closed.

Another Horne trifecta started the second period. VB netted three more field goals before Ada freshman guard Timber Blankenship stopped the 14-0 spurt by rolling in a pull-up shot with 3:20 to go in the half.

A layup by Maddie Parker and a Horne fast break layin advanced the Knight margin to 32-7 at intermission.

Poling sank a driving layup and teammate Lexi Waugh drained a short bank shot early in the third quarter to make it 35-11. The Knights then reeled off 10 unanswered points, capped by a Faith DeWalt right corner trey.

Bulldog sophomore Kylie Acheson stopped the flurry by splashing a trifecta from the top of the key. Light later converted a short banker that cut the deficit to 49-16.

Waugh canned a field goal and Poling banked in a one-footed runner early in the fourth quarter. Ada sophomore guard Kiersten Cortez nailed a 10-footer.

Poling sank a left-handed layup and Light made a follow-up shot inside to finish out the scoring. VB only outscored Ada 12-10 in the final stanza.

Poling led Ada with eight points, while Light netted seven. "Megan's post play is improving," said Bass.

Horne topped all players with 14 points. DeWalt added 11 markers off the Knight bench.

The Knights sank 30 field goals, including three treys. VB also converted two of nine free throws (22 percent).

Ada canned 11 two-point baskets and one trey, and hit on one of nine foul shots (11 percent).

Ada also lost the two-quarter reserve game, 23-5.

Ada 26 (1-6)

Poling 4 0-0 8, George 0, Light 3 1-4 7, Acheson 1 0-0 3, Waugh 2 0-1 4, Cortez 1 0-0 2, Blankenship 1 0-0 2, Phillips 0 0-4 0.

Totals: 12/1-9/26. 3-pointer: Acheson 1.

VB 65 (5-4)

Tabler 3 1-3 7, J. Rinehart 3 0-0 6, Saltzman 2 0-0 4, Durliat 1 1-4 3, H. DeWalt 3 0-0 6, Parker 3 0-0 6, Horne 6 0-0 14, F. DeWalt 5 0-2 11, Nessler 2 0-0 4, A. Rinehart 1 0-0 2, Pawlak 1 0-0 2.

Totals: 30/2-9/65. 3-pointers: Horne 2, F. DeWalt 1.

1 2 3 4 F

Ada 5 2 9 10 26

VB 17 15 21 12 65

JV: VB 23, Ada 5.

Ada (0-3 road, 0-2 NWC) visits league foe Delphos Jefferson (2-6, 0-1 NWC) Thursday evening.