The visiting Ada High School boys basketball team rallied with a big third period, but arch-rival Upper Scioto Valley answered with a late fourth period run hold off the Bulldogs, 63-51, on Saturday, January 8.

The Bulldogs trailed 20-14 after one period and 34-21 at halftime. Yet Ada put together a 23-point third stanza to rally within a point, heading into the final quarter at 45-44.

But the Rams were able to pull away with an 18-7 fourth quarter and remained undefeated. USV sank eight of its nine foul shot tries in the final period.

Ram senior Jackson Rohrs led all players with 22 points, 14 of which came in the final period. Rohrs made four layups and converted all six of his free throw attempts in the fourth quarter.

USV senior Connor Sanders contributed 15 points. Teammate Maddox Underwood contributed nine markers, nine rebounds and four assists. Drew Stepehns added five steals.

Ada junior Ethan Murphy netted a season-high 15 points. Junior guard Spencer Walla tallied 13 markers and classmate Carter Conley netted 11. Senior Cayden Murphy added 10 points.

Despite competing well, the Bulldogs dropped to 4-8 with a fourth straight defeat, while USV improved to 10-0 with the win.

"We went diamond and one (defensively) in the second half, and they finally figured it out in the last three minutes," said first-year Ada head coach Vince Halliday.

USV out-rebounded Ada, 29-17. The Bulldogs committed 16 turnovers to 10 Ram miscues.

Ada connected on 18 baskets, drilling 11 two-pointers and seven trifectas. The Bulldogs converted eight of 10 charity stripe attempts (80 percent).

Ada made 11 of its 26 of its two-point shots, and canned seven of 15 trey tries for overall 18 of 41 field goal accuracy (44 percent).

USV nailed 22 baskets, connecting on 19 two-pointers and three triples. They hit on 16 of 26 free throw attempts (62 percent) to outscore Ada by eight at the foul stripe. 

Ada 51 (4-8)

C. Murphy 4 1-1 10, Conley 4 2-2 11, Sutherly 0, Leal 0, Wall 5 1-2 13, Preston 0 2-2 2, E. Murphy 5 2-3 15.

Totals: 11-7/8-10/51. 3-pointers (7-15): Wall 2, E. Murphy 3, Conley 1, C. Murphy 1.

USV 63 (10-0)

Rohrs 7 8-11 22, A. Sanders 2 0-0 5, Helton 1 0-0 3, Stephens 1 5-6 7, C. Sanders 6 3-8 15, Leonard 1 0-0 2, Underwood 4 0-1 9.

Totals: 19-3/16-26/63. 3-pointers (3-11): A. Sanders 1, Helton 1, Underwood 1. 

1 2 3 4 F

Ada 14 7 23 7 51

USV 20 14 11 18 63

JV: USV 39, Ada 24.

Ada (0-3 NWC) plays at league foe Delphos Jefferson (2-8, 0-2 NWC) Friday, January 14. The Bulldogs then host improved county rival Hardin Northern (6-4) Saturday, Jan. 15.