By Cort Reynolds

CONTINENTAL – The visiting Ada High School girls basketball team used a second quarter explosion to whip non-conference foe Continental 52-16 and earn their first win of the season on the afternoon of December 21.

The Bulldogs led 12-8 after the first period. But they poured in 26 second-period points to grab a 38-12 lead at halftime, and cruised to the victory.

The convincing win improved the Bulldog record to 1-7 overall. The Pirate girls dropped to 1-8 after the blowout defeat.

“The girls played well from the start,” said Ada third-year head coach Zach Ricker. “We shot well.”

“It was good for the girls and to build their confidence,” he said of getting the first victory.

The Ada defense limited the Pirates to just eight points over the final 24 minutes. The Bulldogs helped force 13 Continental turnovers.

Ada junior post Anna Conley scored nine of her game-high 19 points in the decisive second stanza. She knocked down nine field goals and one foul shot.

Senior guard Lexi Poling drained three triples to help propel the second period outburst. She tallied a season-high 16 points behind five treys.

“Anna and Lexi both played well,” said Ricker. “We played halfcourt man defense and pushed the ball in transition.”

Freshman guard Emily Gibson contributed seven markers. Fellow frosh Mariah Burns tallied six points, and sophomore Brooklynn Andreasen added four.

The Bulldog girls connected on 17 two-point field goals and splashed five triples, all by Poling. Ada converted three of six foul shots (50 percent). 

The 52 points is a season-high output for the Bulldogs. Half of those points came in the second quarter.

The host Pirates canned just one two-point goal and drilled three trifectas. 

Continental converted five of 12 free throw tries (42 percent). The Pirate girls snapped a 33-game losing streak earlier this season when they beat Holgate.

No JV game.

The Bulldogs visit Marion Elgin (5-4, 2-0 NWCC) Saturday, Dec. 28 in the opener of a girls/boys varsity doubleheader.

Ada 52 (1-7)
Lawrence 0 0-0 0, K. Poling 0 0-0 0, Gibson 3 1-2 7, L. Poling 5 1-2 16, Hevlin 0 0-0 0, Burns 3 0-0 6, Conley 9 1-2 19, Andreasen 2 0-0 4. Totals: 17-5/3-6/52. 3-pointers: L. Poling 5.

Continental 16 (1-8)
Kam Searfoss 1 0-0 3, Kenz Searfoss 0 1-2 1, Sheeter 0 0-2 0, Shock 2 3-6 9, Pier 0 1-2 1, Cossgrove 1 0-0 2. Totals: 1-3/5-12/16. 3-pointers: Shock 2, Kam Searfoss 1.