By Cort Reynolds

ST. MARYS–The Ada High School boys basketball team stifled Hardin County foe Ridgemont 58-38 in Div. IV sectional semifinal action Tuesday night, February 21, at St. Marys.

Ada improved to 10-13 with the decisive win. Ridgemont ended up 7-16 after the season-ending loss.

Ada led 16-11 after the first period and stretched the margin to 27-16 at halftime. The Bulldogs built a comfortable 41-22 margin after three periods.

The Gophers were not able to reduce their deficit under double digits in the second half.

The Bulldogs extended their lead to 44-22 early in the fourth period, and won handily by 20.

"We played pretty solid throughout," said second-year Bulldog head coach Vince Halliday. “Offensively we moved the ball well and got what we wanted, for the most part.

“After a slow start on defense, we settled down and really limited them to one shot each possession,” he added.

Bulldog senior Carter Conley scored 20 points to pace the victors.

“Carter was aggressive from the onset, he played downhill,” said Halliday. “Spencer (Wall) was in foul trouble and didn’t play much in the first half.”

Senior Ethan Murphy tallied 11 points after netting 23 last time vs. Ridgemont.

Classmate Grant Preston contributed nine points, and senior Jayden Bankston added seven. Senior guard Jaden Leal chipped in with five markers.

“Grant was solid in the post and finished around the rim,” said Halliday. “Jayden provided great energy once he came in, and got a nice three-point play early to provide a spark.”

Sophomore Colton Bailey canned four triples and scored a team-high 14 points. Gopher senior Weston McKinley netted a dozen markers.

The Bulldogs sank 22 shots overall from the field, including 19 two-pointers and three trifectas. 

The Bulldogs converted 11 of 18 foul shot attempts (61 percent). The Gophers canned six of 11 from the charity stripe (55 percent). 

The Gophers canned 13 field goals. Seven of their baskets came inside the arc, while they drained six three-point goals. 

Ada is now 3-0 vs. Ridgemont in Halliday’s tenure.  The Bulldogs also beat the Gophers 60-47 in the season-opener.

The 38 points the Bulldogs allowed was their second-lowest defensive output of the season. They beat North Baltimore 59-30.

The Bulldogs face top seed Marion Local (18-4) in the sectional finals Friday in St. Marys at 6 p.m.

“Obviously they are good, but we have nothing to lose so we might as well let it rip,” said Halliday.

Ada 58 (10-13)

Wall 2 0-0 4, Sutherly 0 0-0 0, Bankston 3 1-2 7, Conley 6 7-10 20, Leal 2 1-3 5, Preston 4 0-0 9, Murphy 4 2-3 11, Hoffer 1 0-0 2. 

Totals: 19-3/11-18/58. 3-pointers: Murphy 1, Conley 1, Preston 1.

Ridgemont 38 (7-16)

Patterson 0, C. Manns 0, K. Manns 0 2-4 2, Bailey 5 0-0 14, Reppart 0 0-0 0, Stuck 1 3-6 5, Eckstein 1 0-0 3, McKinley 5 1-1 12, Brose 1 0-0 2.

Totals: 7-6/6-11/38. 3-pointers: Bailey 4, Eckstein 1, McKinley 1.

1 2 3 4 F

Ada 16 11 14 17 58

Ridg 11 5 6 16 38