By Cort Reynolds

DELPHOS- Visiting Ada fell behind early and lost 62-25 at Northwest Conference foe Delphos Jefferson in girls basketball action Thursday evening.

The Lady Bulldogs dropped to 1-7 overall and 0-3 in league play with their fourth consecutive loss. Meanwhile, the Lady Wildcats improved to 4-6 and 1-1 in the league following the win.

DJ ran out to a 23-6 first quarter lead and stretched it to 37-8 by halftime. The Wildcats won a much closer second half, 25-17.

Ada freshman guard Kirsten Poling led the Bulldogs with 13 points. Sophomore post Megan Light added six.

"Kirsten definitely stood out and did a lot for us," said first-year Ada head coach Morgan Bass. "Megan Light stepped up and played pretty well in the post defensively."

Jefferson was led by Delaney Deuel's game-high 18 points. Teammate Addy Stewart canned 14 points and Aly Lindeman added 13 markers.

The Wildcats sank 26 field goals, including two treys. DJ also converted eight of 11 free throws (73 percent).

Ada canned 11 two-point baskets and three of four foul shots (75 percent).

The Bulldogs also lost the two-quarter reserve game, 19-13.

Ada 25 (1-7, 0-3 NWC)

Poling 5 3-4 13, George 2 0-0 4, Light 3 0-0 6, Acheson 0, Waugh 0, Cortez 1 0-0 2, Blankenship 0, Phillips 0.

Totals: 11/3-4/25. 3-pointers: none.

DJ 62 (4-6, 1-1 NWC)

Buzard 2 0-0 4, Stewart 6 0-0 14, Lindeman 5 3-3 13, Deuel 7 4-6 18, Mawhorr 2 1-2 5, Bridges 2 0-0 4, McCune 1 0-0 2, Brinkman 1 0-0 2.

Totals: 26/8-11/62. 3-pointers: Stewart 2.

1 2 3 4 F

Ada 6 2 8 9 25

DJ 23 14 15 10 62

JV: DJ 19, Ada 13.

Ada (1-3 home) hosts local rival USV (0-6) in the second semifinal of the second annual Border Battle tournament Thursday evening, December 27.

Waynesfield (3-5) faces tournament favorite and defending champion Allen East (5-2) in the first semifinal Dec. 27 at 6 p.m.

The third-place game will be held Saturday, Dec. 29 at noon. The girls championship game is later that night at 6 p.m. AE edged Ada to win the inaugural Border Battle girls crown last year in Waynesfield.