Panthers heat up in second half

By Cort Reynolds

McCOMB__The visiting Ada High School girls basketball team fell victim to a hot-shooting second half as they lost 58-36 to Blanchard Valley Conference foe McComb on Thursday, January 22.

The game was close at halftime, with Ada trailing just 20-17. Junior guard Kenley Poling drained two triples to keep the Bulldogs within 14-7 after the first period. 

Ada then won the second stanza 10-6, by holding the Panthers to two field goals. But McComb poured in 19 points in each of the third and fourth periods to pull away and win by 22.

The Panthers drilled three triples in a 19-10 third quarter to build a 39-26 cushion heading to the final quarter. The hosts then nailed three more treys in the fourth stanza to win it, 19-9.

The Panthers doubled up the Bulldog girls 38-19 in the second half.

The Bulldogs fell to 8-9 overall and 2-6 in the BVC after the road defeat.    

McComb improved to 8-8 overall and 4-3 in BVC play with the victory.

Poling and freshman playmaker Lucy Carter each netted nine points to pace Ada. Carter sank a trey in the final period as she scored five late points.

Senior post Anna Conley and Bulldog freshman Te’a Griffith tallied seven markers apiece.

Panther Morgan Kern led all scorers with 17 points. Claire Bryan and Lana Lause netted 14 apiece. Kern and Lause both splashed three triples, while Bryan nailed two.

Lause poured in 11 big points with two triples in the decisive third-period outburst. She added another trey in the fourth quarter.

Bryan scored seven points in the final period, and Kern added five markers. Each splashed a trifecta in the fourth stanza.

Sophomore Madison Beckman added 10 points.

The Bulldogs connected on 12 two-point goals, knocked down three triples and converted three of six free throws (50 percent). 

The Panthers canned 13 two-pointers, buried eight big treys and sank eight of 14 charity stripers (43 percent). 

UP NEXT
The Bulldog girls (3-6 at home) host struggling non-league foe Fort Jennings (3-12) on Saturday, Jan. 24. FJ lost 62-25 Thursday at Ottoville. 

Ada entertains Arlington (8-7, 3-3 BVC) on Thursday, Jan. 29.

Ada 36 (8-9, 2-6 BVC)

Poling 3 1-2 9, St.  Laurent 0 0-0 0, Gibson 1 0-0 2, Smith 0 0-0 0, Carter 4 0-1 9, Conley 3 1-2 7, Hevlin 1 0-0 2, Griffith 3 1-1 7. 

Totals: 12-3/3-6/36. 3-pointers: Poling 2, Carter 1. 

McComb 58 (8-8, 4-3 BVC)

Beckman 3 4-7 10, Kitzler 1 0-0 2, Hassan 0 1-4 1, Lause 5 1-1 14, Bryan 6 0-0 14, Kern 6 2-2 17.

Totals: 13-8/8-14/58. 3-pointers: Kern 3, Lause 3, Bryan 2.