The visiting Ada boys basketball team led all the way in a 62-51 victory over McComb in non-conference action Saturday night, December 4.

Senior Cayden Murphy led the Bulldogs to victory with a career-high 25 points and six rebounds. 

Ada led 15-8 after the first period and 28-17 at halftime in their first road test of the season. McComb edged within 44-37 after three periods, but the Bulldogs converted 12 free throws in the fourth quarter to hold the Panthers at bay.

The Bulldogs improved to 2-1 with the non-league road win. Meanwhile, the Panthers dropped to 0-2 with the defeat. 

"Cayden was very good," said first-year Ada head coach Vince Halliday. "We handled the pressure well, kept our composure during the third period and never trailed.

"It was a solid team effort," he added. "Being the more mentally and physically tough team certainly helped."

Ada junior guard Spencer Wall contributed 16 points, eight rebounds and four assists. 

Junior Carter Conley amassed 11 points and 11 rebounds. Classmate Ethan Murphy contributed four points, five rebounds and five assists.

Ada canned 20 baskets, including 19 two-pointers. The Bulldogs converted 21 of 39 free throw attempts (53 percent) to outscore the Panthers by 15 at the foul line.

McComb also made 20 baskets, connecting on 15 two-pointers and five treys. But they hit just six free throw in nine attempts (67 percent).

Ada 62 (2-1)

C. Murphy 10 5-11 25, Leal 1 1-2 3, Wall 4 7-7 16, Conley 2 7-8 11, Preston 1 1-3 3, E. Murphy 1 2-8 4.

Totals: 19-1/21-39/62. 3-pointer: Wall 1.

McComb 51 (0-2)

Kline 1 0-0 2, Glaser 1 1-1 3, Rodriguez 7 0-1 14, Wittenmeyer 1 0-0 3, Downing 3 0-0 8, Dishong 2 0-0 4, Sherick 2 3-5 7, Miehls 1 2-2 4, Holman 2 0-0 6.

Totals: 15-5/6-9/51. 3-pointers: Downing 2, Holman 2, Wittenmeyer 1.

1 2 3 4 F

Ada 15 13 16 18 62

McC 8 9 20 14 51

JV: McComb 62, Ada 29.

Ada (1-1 home) hosts defending league champion and state runner-up Columbus Grove (2-1) Friday, December 10 in the Northwest Conference opener. 

The Bulldogs then entertain tough Perry (3-1) Saturday, Dec. 11.