By Cort Reynolds

VANLUE – The visiting Ada High School boys basketball team rode a big third quarter to defeat upset-minded Vanlue 67-60 in their inaugural Blanchard Valley Conference opener Friday night, December 6.

The Bulldogs improved to 2-1 overall and 1-0 in the BVC after winning their third straight road game to start the season.

Vanlue fell to 0-3 overall and 0-1 in the BVC with the home defeat.

Junior Zack Zimmerman led Ada with a career-high 29 points as he canned four triples.

“We weren’t ready to play, and they came out playing really well and got us down early,” said Bulldog head coach Chris Sautter. “We didn’t rebound well defensively.

“But we made enough plays down the stretch to win,” he noted.

The Bulldogs trailed 17-13 after the first period. The Wildcats maintained a four-point lead at halftime, 31-27.  

A big 18-8 third period shifted the momentum to Ada as they seized a 45-39 lead heading to the final stanza.

The Bulldogs then outscored Vanlue 22-21 in a high-scoring fourth quarter to win by seven. Ada out-pointed the Wildcats 40-29 in the second half.

Bulldog sophomore point guard Carson Conley scored 15 points, and sophomore guard Kolton Dysert added 10 markers.

Ada connected on 17 two-pointers and knocked down six triples. The Bulldogs converted just 15 of 33 free throws (45 percent).

Vanlue canned 14 two-pointers and drained seven trifectas. The Wildcats made 11 foul shots.

Six of the first seven Bulldog contests are away from home.

Ada 67 (2-1, 1-0 BVC)

Oldfield 3-0-6, Dysert 3-2-10, Zimmerman 10-5-29, Green 0-1-1, Conley 6-3-15, Hickman 0-2-2, Gossman 0-0-0, Lawrence 0-0-0, Erickson 1-0-2. 

Totals: 17-6/15-33/67. 3-pointers: Zimmerman 4, Dysert 2.

Vanlue 60 (0-3, 0-1 BVC)

King 5-0-14, O. Saltzman 5-6-17, Roszman 7-2-16, Hamilton 2-2-7, Spears 1-0-3, Wallen 1-1-3.

Totals: 14-7/11/60. 3-pointers: King 4, Saltzman 1, Hamilton 1, Spears 1.

1 2 3 4 F

Ada 13 14 18 22 67

Vlue 17 14 8 21 60

The Bulldogs host backyard rival and former league foe Allen East (2-1) Saturday, Dec. 7 in the home opener. The Mustangs beat visiting Temple Christian 54-47 Friday.

On Tuesday at Ridgemont, AE blew an early 15-point lead and lost 65-60. Meanwhile, Ada nipped the Gophers 45-44.

“If we don’t guard better Saturday, it’s going to be a long season,” said Sautter. “Defense travels. It starts and ends on that end of the floor.”