See also Zimmerman notches new Bulldog record for 3-pointers

By Cort Reynolds

ADA–The Ada High School boys basketball team lost a 39-38 barnburner to visiting non-conference foe New Knoxville on Tuesday, December 16.

Playing their second straight one-point game, the Bulldogs ended up on the short end of the score after winning the last time. NK rallied to outscore Ada 12-6 in the fourth quarter, pulling off the road upset.

Ada forced a jump ball with four seconds left and won possession. The Bulldogs got off a long two-point shot to try and win it at the buzzer, but the shot missed. 

“They made us play their style and tempo,” said veteran Bulldog head coach Chris Sautter. “We struggle against the zone. We had way too many turnovers.

”We shot 4-8 from the free throw line down the stretch,” he noted. “We lost every 50/50 ball. Just too many things not in our favor to overcome.”

Ada fell to 4-2 overall with the home defeat. New Knoxville improved to 3-3 after the comeback victory.

Bulldog junior Carson Conley tallied a game-high 13 points.

Zack Zimmerman, Andrew Allen and Conley each drilled a triple early to build an 11-6 Ada advantage after the first period. An 8-7 second stanza gave the hosts a 19-13 edge at halftime. 

Conley netted five markers and Connor McKean splashed a trifecta in the second stanza for Ada.

NK surpassed their entire first half output by winning the third period 14-13, but the Bulldogs still held a 32-27 advantage heading to the fourth quarter. Kayleb Hickman canned a three and a deuce in the third period to help keep the Bulldogs ahead by five.

But in the decisive fourth stanza, the Bulldogs were able to muster only one field goal and sank only four foul shots in eight tries.

Ada senior Hickman netted seven markers, and classmate Zimmerman added five.

Ranger sophomore Carson Lammers scored eight of his 10 points in the second half, including six in the third quarter. NK sophomore Connor Hoge tallied five of his nine points in the fourth period. 

“We are not getting enough production on the offensive end from some of our starters,” Sautter offered.

The Bulldogs connected on seven deuces and splashed five triples. Ada converted nine of 15 free throws (60 percent).

NK canned nine deuces and nailed three treys. The Rangers sank 12 of 19 foul shots.

Ada won the junior varsity game, 43-39. Lucas Henson led the Bulldog reserves with 17 points. Cam McKean and Max Baumgartner added 11 markers apiece.

The Bulldogs entertain league foe Elmwood (1-2, 1-1 BVC) on Friday, Dec. 19 in their fourth straight home game. Ada is 4-1 at home and 0-1 on the road.

Ada 38 (4-2)
Oldfield 1 1-2 3, Zimmerman 2 0-0 5, Stauffer 0 0-0 0, Conley 3 6-9 13, Zoladz 1 1-2 3, Allen 1 0-0 3, McKean 1 0-0 3, Hickman 3 0-0 7, Griffith 0 1-2 1.

Totals: 7-5/9-15/38. 3-pointers: Hickman 1, Zimmerman 1, Conley 1, Allen 1, McKean 1.

NK 39 (3-3)
Holland 0 4-8 4, Gabel 2 0-0 6, Fledderjohann 2 2-2 7, Stiles 1 1-2 3, Hoge 3 3-5 9, Lammers 4 2-2 10.

Totals: 9-3/12-19/39. 3-pointers: Gabel 2, Fledderjohann 1.

JV: Ada 43, NK 39

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