By Cort Reynolds

NORTH BALTIMORE__The visiting Ada High School boys basketball team lost 57-50 at North Baltimore as the nightcap of a girls/boys varsity doubleheader Saturday night, February 3.

The Bulldogs fell victim to a big 23-15 NB fourth period after leading 35-34 heading to the final stanza.

Ada led 12-11 after the first quarter and upped their edge to 24-16 at halftime. NB rallied within a point behind an 18-11 third period, and outscored the Bulldogs 41-26 in the second half. 

A Tiger run in the final two minutes of the third quarter gave the hosts momentum heading to the fourth period. NB seized the lead early in the fourth quarter, and held onto the lead at the foul line to post the comeback win.

Ada dropped to 3-14 with the tough loss, while NB improved to 6-10 after the victory.

“We played well for the first 22 minutes,” said Bulldog third-year head coach Vince Halliday. “(Owen) Clark took over for them in the fourth quarter.”

The Tigers out-pointed Ada 24-10 at the foul line. “We fouled a lot,” said Halliday.

NB attempted 34 charity stripers, while the Bulldogs shot 13 free tosses.

Sophomore Zach Zimmerman led Ada with 12 points. Freshman playmaker Kolton Dysert tallied 11 markers. 

Soph post Slade Gossman scored eight points, and junior Levi Green added seven markers.

Tiger ace Owen Clark led all players with 22 points.

The Ada reserves also lost 37-29 to drop to 8-9 this season.

NB hit 24 of 34 at the foul line (71 percent). Ada hit on 77 percent of its charity stripers (10-13). 

The Bulldogs canned five more two-point goals, 17-12. NB hit three triples compared to two treys by Ada. But the 14-point edge at the free throw line helped spell the difference.

The Bulldogs (0-5 NWC) visit league foe Leipsic (8-9, 3-3 NWC) next Friday, February 9.

Ada 50 (3-14)

Oldfield 0 0-0 0,
Zimmerman 5 2-2 12,
Hickman 1 0-0 3,
Dysert 5 0-0 11,
Green 1 5-6 7,
Blankenship 1 0-0 2,
Gossard 0 1-2 1,
House 0 0-0 0,
Conley 2 2-3 6,
Gossman 4 0-0 8,
Lawrence 0 0-0 0.

Totals: 17-2/10-13/50. 3-pointers: Hickman 1, Dysert 1.

NB 37 (6-10)

O. Clark 5 11-11 22,
Baltz 1 0-1 2,
Walton 3 0-0 6,
Tackett 2 4-10 9,
Ferdenandsen 2 2-2 7,
C. Clark 1 4-4 6,
J. Clark 1 3-5 5.

Totals: 12-3/24-34/57. 3-pointers: Tackett 1, O. Clark 1, Fernenandsen 1. 

SCOREBOARD

JV: NB 37, Ada 29.