By Cort Reynolds

LIMA__The Ada High School boys basketball team defeated Lima Temple Christian 44-37 in a non-league away game Saturday night, February 17.

The Bulldogs won each of the first three periods to build a 33-21 lead heading to the final quarter. Ada led by 16 late in the third period when the Pioneers put on a 5-0 spurt to end the stanza down by 12.

LTC continued to rally and cut the Ada lead to six points with 1:43 remaining to play. But the Bulldogs held the Pioneers at bay from the foul line late to win by seven.

Temple won the fourth stanza, 16-11. 

Ada improved to 4-16 overall with the road win that snapped a five-game losing streak. The Pioneers dropped to 8-13 with the defeat.

“We led throughout and held on in the fourth,” said Bulldog third-year head coach Vince Halliday. “They couldn’t make a three late, which was lucky for us.”

Ada sophomore Zach Zimmerman scored a game-high 20 points and splashed all nine of his free throw attempts. He also came up with six steals and grabbed five rebounds.

Freshman playmaker Kolton Dysert contributed 13 points and drilled two triples.

Junior guard Levi Green tallied six points and six rebounds. Sophomore wing Kayleb Hickman chipped in with five points, six rebounds and four steals.

Ada sank eight two-point goals and knocked down three triples. The Bulldogs canned 19 of 24 charity stripe attempts (79 percent) to outscore the Pioneers by a decisive 16 points at the foul line.  

LTC connected on 14 deuces and nailed just two treys. The Pioneers made just three of 10 free throws (30 percent).

The Ada junior varsity won 45-33 to improve to 9-10 this season. The Bulldogs also won the freshman contest 39-31 to sweep all three games Saturday.

Spencerville has clinched a second straight NWC title outright at 7-0. Bluffton finished second at 6-2, while Crestview is third at 5-2.  Allen East, Leipsic and Columbus Grove are in a three-way tie for fourth at 4-3.

Ada (0-7 NWC) hosts Lincolnview (4-17, 0-7 NWC) in the league finale between two teams with nearly identical records Friday, February 23. It is the final home game of the season for the purple and gold.

The Bulldogs then visit winless Vanlue (0-19) Saturday, Feb. 24 to conclude the regular season.

Ada plays at top seed Lima Central Catholic (19-2) in Div. IV sectional first round action Wednesday, Feb. 28. LCC beat Lima Senior 56-47 in overtime Saturday night. 

The Thunderbirds have won eight in a row since a two-game losing skid in mid-season to Delphos St. John’s (58-53) and Spencerville (54-52).

Ada 44 (4-16)

Oldfield 0 0-0 0, Zimmerman 5 9-9 20, Hickman 1 3-5 5, Dysert 4 3-4 13, Green 1 4-6 6, Blankenship 0 0-0 0, Gossard 0 0-0 0, House 0 0-0 0, Conley 0 0-0 0, Lawrence 0 0-0 0.

Totals: 8-3/19-24/44. 3-pointers, Dysert 2, Zimmerman 1.

LTC 37 (8-13)

Dupree 1 1-1 3, Menke 4 1-3 9, Johns 1 0-0 3, Wright 1 0-0 2, Patrick 1 0-0 3, Clay 4 1-2 9, Kiser 4 0-4 8.

Totals: 14-2/3-10/37. 3-pointers: Johns 1, Patrick 1.   

1 2 3 4 F

Ada  14 8 11 11 44

LTC 7 7 7 16 37

JV: Ada 45, LTC 33.