By Cort Reynolds

MT. BLANCHARD – The visiting Ada High School boys basketball team defeated Blanchard Valley Conference foe Riverdale in a defensive 37-32 battle Friday, December 13.

Ada smothered the Falcons 27-20 over the final three quarters for the victory. 

The Bulldogs improved to 3-2 overall and 2-0 in BVC play with the win.

Riverdale fell to 2-4 overall and 0-3 in the BVC after the loss.

The Bulldogs trailed 12-10 following the first period before the defense and offense kicked in.

“Another hard-fought game,” said veteran Bulldog head coach Chris Sautter. “We got off to a kind of a sluggish start, but went in at half up by one (19-18).

”We did a nice job defensively the last three quarters, we only gave up 20 total points,” he offered regarding the final 24 minutes. “It was just a good team win.”

Ada led 26-24 after three periods, and outscored the Falcons 11-8 in the final stanza to win by five.

Bulldog sophomore guard Carson Conley topped Ada with 13 points. He hit the only purple and gold three-pointer.

Bulldog juniors Gavin Oldfield and Kayleb Hickman each scored six points.

“Riverdale only shot two free throws for the game, and we did a nice job on the defensive glass,” Sautter noted. “I am pretty sure we had double-digit offensive rebounds. 

“We were patient on offense and took what they gave us,” he continued. “We made them pay later when they pressured us. We made good decisions and finished.”

Senior guard Jack Dusseau led the Falcons with a game-high 14 points, including two triples. Grant Inbody added six markers.

Ada connected on 14 two-pointers and hit just one triple. The Bulldogs converted six free throws.
Riverdale canned 13 two-pointers and splashed two trifectas. The Falcons made zero foul shots in two tries.

“The kids are excited to be 2-0 in the league,” Sautter noted. Ada had been 0-24 over the last three seasons in the Northwest Conference.  

Ada 37 (3-2, 2-0 BVC)
Oldfield 3-0-6, Dysert 0-2-2, Zimmerman 2-1-5, Green 0-0-0, Conley 6-0-13, Hickman 3-0-6, Gossman 1-2-4, Lawrence 0-1-1, Erickson 0 0-0 0.
Totals: 14-1/6/37. 3-pointers: Conley 1.
Riverdale 32 (2-4, 0-3 BVC)
Dusseau 6-0-14, Hagerty 1-0-2, Elwood 1-0-2, Inbody 3-0-6, Flowers-Barger 2-0-4, Reiter 2-0-4.

Totals: 13-2/0-2/32. 3-pointers: Dusseau 2.

Ada visits MAC foe New Knoxville (2-1) Tuesday, December 17. 

The Bulldogs then travel to Elmwood (0-2, 0-1 BVC), coached by Ada alum Ty Traxler, in a league game Friday, Dec. 20. Six of the first seven Bulldog games are on the road.