By Cort Reynolds

RIDGEWAY – The Ada High School boys basketball team edged Hardin County rival Ridgemont 45-44 in the closing seconds to win a close season opener Wednesday night, November 27.

The tight non-league victory started the Bulldog campaign 1-0. The NWCC favorite Gophers begin 0-1.

Ridgemont led 44-43 in the waning seconds as Ada worked for a final shot.

Junior Zack Zimmerman was fouled while shooting a three-pointer, and he canned the first two foul shots to provide the slim margin of victory.

On the decisive play, one official apparently whistled Ada for double dribble, while the other referee called a foul which superseded the violation.

Ada head coach Chris Sautter won his first game back to start his second stint guiding the Bulldog cagers. It was victory number 175 in his 15th season as Bulldog mentor.

Ada jumped to an 11-5 lead after the first period. Junior Gavin Oldfield tallied five first-quarter points, and Zimmerman drained a trifecta to help the Bulldogs grab the early advantage.

Ridgemont answered with a big 20-13 second stanza, and the hosts held a narrow 25-24 edge at halftime. Gopher Xavier Stuck canned a triple and three two-point goals to tally nine markers in the second quarter as he powered the hosts to a slight lead.

Ada junior Kayleb Hickman led the visitors with seven points in the second period. 

The Bulldogs came back with a 13-8 third period to go back on top heading to the final stanza, 37-33. Ada sophomore point guard Carson Conley tallied seven points in the third quarter, including a triple.

Ridgemont won the fourth period 11-8, but came up a point short. Gopher Harrison Reppart tallied five of his 11 markers in the final quarter.

Conley scored 11 of his team-leading 14 markers in the second half. Hickman netted 13 markers. Zimmerman tallied nine, and Oldfield scored seven to round out the balanced Ada attack.

Gopher Stuck netted 11 of his game-high 15 points in the first half. Serbian exchange student Mike Stosovic tallied 11 points.

Ada sank 15 two-pointers and knocked down three triples. The Bulldogs converted just six of 14 free throws (43 percent).

Ridgemont canned 18 two-pointers and two trifectas. The Gophers made just two of seven foul shots (29 percent).

Ada 45 (1-0)

Oldfield 3 1-1 7, Dysert 0 0-0 0, Zimmerman 3 2-3 9, Green 0 2-4 2, Conley 6 1-5 14, Hickman 6 0-1 13, Lawrence 0 0-0 0. 

Totals: 15-3/6-14/45. 3-pointers: Zimmerman 1, Conley 1, Hickman 1.

R’mont 44 (0-1)

Stuck 7 0-0 15, Manns 2 1-4 5, Reppart 5 1-3 11, Stosovic 5 0-0 11, Bailey 1 0-0 2. Totals: 18-2/2-7/44. 3-pointers: Stosovic 1, Stuck 1.

1 2 3 4 F

Ada 11 13 13 8 45

Rmt 5 20 8 11 44

Ada plays at Fort Jennings (0-0) Saturday, November 30 in another non-league game.