The Ada High School boys basketball team led almost the entire game against Waynesfield-Goshen in the third-place game of the Border Battle basketball tournament Thursday afternoon, December 30, at Allen East.
But Tiger Za'mere Daniels hit two tie-breaking foul shots with seven seconds left, then blocked a last-second three-pointer to give W-G a 59-57 comeback victory.
"It was certainly our most disappointing loss," said first-year Ada head coach Vince Halliday. "That was a game we should have won. "W-G wanted it more in those last two minutes and made the necessary plays to get it done.
A short-handed Ada High School girls basketball team fought hard but lost a 46-38 battle to talented backyard rival Allen East in the title game of the fourth annual Border Battle tournament Thursday evening, December 30, at Harrod.
AE took control with a 14-1 run midway through the first half, then held off a game Lady Bulldog rally. Ada edged within four just before halftime and was down just six with 71 seconds left, but could get no closer.
The hard-luck Lady Bulldogs fell to 3-9 with the defeat, while the young and promising Lady Mustangs improved to 7-4 with the championship victory.
The Ada High School boys basketball team stayed within striking distance of favored rival Upper Scioto Valley over the first half of their semifinal game in the Border Battle tournament Wednesday night, December 29, at Harrod.
The Bulldogs trailed just 26-18 at intermission. But the Rams blew the game open with a 20-4 third period and outscored Ada 33-9 in the second half to win going away, 59-27.
Senior Connor Sanders led the Rams with 29 points, while Drew Stephens added 17 points.
USV's Maddox Underwood contributed eight rebounds, six assists and three steals.
The Ada High School girls basketball team ran off 23 consecutive points over the middle quarters and cruised to a 51-18 win over traditional rival Upper Scioto Valley in the semifinals of the fourth Border Battle tournament Tuesday night at Allen East.
The Lady Bulldogs ended the first half on a 12-0 run to turn a tight three-point lead against the spunky Ram girls into a 25-10 halftime bulge.
Ada was never threatened in the second half, extending the lead to 36-10 with an 11-0 flurry starting the third period.
The Lady Bulldogs improved to 3-8 with the decisive victory. The scrappy Lady Rams fell to 0-11 with the defeat.
The Ada High School swim team competed well in the Bluffton Holiday Invitational at the Lima YMCA Tuesday, December 28.
The Lady Bulldogs finished a solid ninth in the 25-team female field.
The Bulldog boys came in 20th out of 21 teams. In the combined standings, Ada ended up 12th of 28 schools.
Ottawa-Glandorf won the girls team title, but Wapakoneta captured the boys and combined overall crowns.
"Overall I am extremely proud of how our team competed," said second-year Ada head coach Katey Stuart. "Every swimmer dropped time in at least one event, and we even had a school record get broken.
The Ohio Northern softball team has announced its 2022 schedule under sixth-year head coach Jackie Price. The Polar Bears will get their 55th season underway March 5-12 with their annual Spring Break trip to Clermont, Fla. The 10-to-12 game Spring Break schedule will be announced in February.
ONU will open its northern schedule on March 21 with a double header at Alma (Mich.) and will play a twin-bill at Calvin (Mich.) April 24.
Ohio Northern will open its home and Ohio Athletic Conference schedules with two games against Marietta on March 26 at the ONU Softball Field.
