By Cort Reynolds

LIMA__The hot-shooting Ada High School boys basketball team drubbed non-conference foe Lima Temple Christian 70-36 on the road Saturday, February 14.

The Bulldogs raced to a 21-4 lead after the first quarter and were never seriously threatened.

Bulldog senior Kayleb Hickman pumped in three first-period triples as he scored early 11 points to ignite the visitors.

Ada senior Zack Zimmerman fired in three treys and 13 points in the third quarter. He tallied a game-high 23 markers and drained four trifectas.

A 15-8 Bulldog second period extended their advantage to a commanding 36-12 at halftime.

Ada poured in 22 third-period markers to stay comfortably on top 58-20 heading into the final period.

The Bulldogs also won the fourth quarter 12-6 to win by 34. The purple and gold outscored TC 24-0 from beyond the arc.

Ada improved to 13-7 with the blowout road win. Temple Christian dropped to 11-10 after the home defeat.

“We got out of the gate quick, up 17-4,” said Ada head coach Chris Sautter.

”We forced some turnovers and were able to push the tempo. We guarded well and shot the ball well.

“Nice to be 16-for-19 from the foul line,” he noted. “It showed what we are capable of. We just need to be more consistent.”

Junior guard Blake Zoladz netted 10 points, while senior Gavin Oldfield contributed nine. Hickman scored 11 of his 13 points in the first stanza.

Derek Shultz, who beat Ada on a long three-pointer at the buzzer last year, led the Pioneers with 13 points. 

The Bulldogs connected on 15 two-point goals and drilled eight trifectas, half by Zimmerman. Ada converted 16 of their 19 free throws (84 percent).

TC canned 14 deuces but drained zero treys. The Pioneers sank eight of 15 foul shots (53 percent). 

UP NEXT
With two games left in the regular season, Ada hosts non-league foe Perry (3-17) on Tuesday, Feb. 17. The Commodores upset Waynesfield 52-49 Friday, and have won three of their last five contests after starting the season 0-15.

Ada (5-4 BVC) then visits league foe Leipsic (3-17, 1-8 BVC) on Friday, Feb. 20 to end the regular season. The Vikings lost to Arlington 53-12 Friday, and have dropped eight of their last nine games.

The sectional drawing will be held on Sunday.

Ada 70 (13-7)

Oldfield 4 1-1 9, A. Brown 0 0-2 0, Zimmerman 7 5-6 23, Stauffer 0 0-0 0, Conley 0 4-4 4, Griffith 0, Zoladz 4 2-2 10, Allen 1 2-2 4, McKean 2 0-0 5, C. Brown 0 2-2 2, Hickman 5 0-0 13. 

TOTALS: 15-8/16-19/70. 3-pointers: Zimmerman 4, Hickman 3, McKean 1.

LTC 36 (11-10)

Wright 2 2-2 6, Marshall 2 0-2 4, Schick 1 0-0 2, Patrick 1 0-0 2, Shultz 4 5-5 13, White 1 0-0 2, Lieurance 1 0-0 2, Long 2 1-3 5, Long 0 0-2 0.

TOTALS: 14-0/8-15/36. 3-pointers: none.