UPDATED December 3 with coach interview.

By Cort Reynolds

FT. JENNINGS __ The visiting Ada High School boys basketball team lost to Fort Jennings 55-46 in a non-league game Saturday night.

Ada dropped to 1-1 after the defeat. FJ is also 1-1 after the home win.

The Bulldogs led 12-8 after the first period. But the Musketeers rallied to seize a 21-19 edge at the half. FJ outscored Ada 34-27 in the second half.

A 13-7 Musketeer second quarter shifted the momentum FJ’s way. The hosts won the third period 18-14 to build a slight 39-33 cushion heading to the final stanza.

“It was another hard-fought game, we had to battle through some adversity, especially foul trouble,” said Bulldog head coach Chris Sautter. “But we were only two down at half and had it at five with the ball - we just couldn’t get the stops we needed down the stretch.

“We traded buckets too much,” he added.

Musketeer Jarron Swick led all scorers with 22 points. Menke added 10 markers.

Junior Zack Zimmerman topped Ada with 18 points. He drained five three-point goals. 

Junior Kayleb Hickman contributed nine points. Sophomore Carson Conley added six markers.

Junior post Slade Gossman played in his first game since tearing his ACL late last season.

“That was a positive,” said Sautter of Gossman’s return. “Obviously, that changes things in terms of rotation and what we can/should run on both ends of the floor. It is going to take time to get him into shape and to gel as a unit. But it is a good problem to have.”

Ada connected on nine two-pointers and knocked down seven triples. The Bulldogs converted seven free throws.

FJ canned 12 two-pointers and drained six trifectas. The Musketeers made   13 foul shots.

Ada 46 (1-1)

Oldfield 1 0-0 3, Dysert 2-1-6, Zimmerman 6-1-18, Green 1-0-2, Conley 2-2-6, Hickman 3-3-9, Gossman 1-0-2, Lawrence 0-0-0, Erickson 0-0-0. 

Totals: 9-7/7/46. 3-pointers: Zimmerman 5, Dysert 1, Oldfield 1.

FJ 55 (1-1)

Calvelage 2-0-6, C. Menke 3-3-10, Howbert 3-0-8, Swick 7-8-22, B. Menke 2-2-7, Hoersten 1-0-2.

Totals: 12-6/13/55. 3-pointers: Howbert 2, Calvelage 2, C. Menke 1, B. Menke 1.

1 2 3 4 F

Ada 12 7 14 13 46

FtJ 8 13 18 16 55

JV: FJ 40, Ada 33.

Ada plays at Vanlue (0-1) Friday, December 6 in their inaugural Blanchard Valley Conference opener. It will be their third straight road game to start the season. Six of the first seven Bulldog contests are away from home.

The Wildcats lost 75-37 to Lakota Friday, and play at Danbury Tuesday, Dec. 3. 

The Bulldogs then host backyard rival and former league foe Allen East (1-0) Saturday, Dec. 7 in the home opener.

AE beat Perry 69-55 Friday night. New Mustang mentor Ben Belcher earned his first win as Deacon Jones scored 22 points.

AE plays at Ridgemont (0-1) Tuesday. Ada edged the Gophers 45-44 on the road in their opener Nov. 29.