By Cort Reynolds
KALIDA - The visiting Ada boys basketball team lost 47-40 at Kalida Friday night in a non-league defensive battle.

The Wildcats improved to 1-1 with the victory, while the Bulldogs fell to 1-2 with the defeat.

"We fought like heck; I am proud of our effort," said Ada fourth-year head coach Dre White. "Little things made the difference. We had some untimely errors and missed free throws." 

Kalida led 15-10 after the first period, yet the Bulldogs inched within 23-21 by intermission. The Wildcats stretched the lead to 36-28 after three quarters, then hung on to post the win.

"I am loving our effort so far this year," White noted. "This is something we can build upon."

The cold-shooting Bulldogs made 16 of 44 shots from the field (36 percent). They canned four of 15 beyond the arc (27 percent) and sank 12 of 29 from two-point range (41 percent). 

Ada converted just four of 11 from the charity stripe (36 percent). The Bulldogs have shot just 18 for 47 from the foul line (38 percent) through three games this season.

The Wildcats sank 18 of 44 field goal tries (41 percent). They made 12 of 30 from two-point range (40 percent) and drained six of 17 from three-point territory (35 percent). 

Kalida converted five of seven at the foul line (71 percent). 

Ada was narrowly out-rebounded by the Wildcats, 32-31. Point guard Brandon Hull topped the Bulldogs with nine rebounds. The Bulldogs committed only seven turnovers, while Kalida made six errors.
 
Zac Swaney paced Ada with a dozen points while backcourt mate Hull contributed 11 markers. Phillip Coulson added nine points. 

On the strength of three trifectas, Wildcat Gabe Hovest topped all scorers with 15 points in the low-scoring game. 

Ada (2-1) lost the junior varsity game, 42-19.

Ada 40 (1-2)
Swaney 5-0-12, Hull 4-3-11, Coulson 4-0-9, Rayl 1-0-2, Cook 1-0-3, Miller 1-1-3.
Totals: 16-44/4-11/40. 3-pointers (4-15): Coulson 1, Swaney 2, Cook 1.

Kalida 47 (1-1)
Warnecke 1-0-2, Vanderembse 4-0-8, Miler 2-3-7, Hovest 5-2-15, Siefker 2-0-5, Horstman 2-0-4, Roebke 2-0-6.
Totals: 18-44/5-7/47. 3-pointers (6-17): Hovest 3, Roebke 2, Seiffer 1.
 
    1    2    3    4    F
Ada    10    11    7    12    40    
Kal    15     8    13    11    47
JV: Kalida 42, Ada 19. 

Ada (0-1 road) visits Ottoville (1-1) in another Putnam County road game Saturay night. The Big Green lost at home Friday to tough Columbus Grove (52-36). Ottoville whipped Temple Christian 69-22 in their opener.

"We are back at it against a long and athletic Ottoville group," said White.