PHOTOS by Mark Andreasen / CLICK to enlarge

By Cort Reynolds

DOLA__The visiting Ada High School girls basketball team lost 40-33 to county rival Hardin Northern in their annual non-conference battle on Tuesday, December 2.

The Polar Bears built a seven-point halftime lead, and the hosts were able to maintain that margin as both teams scored 16 points in a deadlocked second half. 

Ada dropped to 1-2 after suffering the defeat in their first road game. HN improved to 2-0 with the victory.

The Bulldogs led 1-0 behind a foul shot by senior Anna Conley after the opening minutes of play. Polar Bear sophomore Addy Bacon scored the game’s first basket over three minutes into the fray.

A triple by Northern senior guard Alaina Thomas gave the Bears a 5-1 advantage moments later, but Bulldog guard Kenley Poling nailed a field goal.

HN’s Addy Bacon scored, followed by a Conley basket to provide a 7-5 score as the offensive play picked up. Bear Olivia Camper canned a basket, but Poling drilled an 18-footer to cut the deficit to 9-7. 

HN sophomore Baylie Bacon sank a putback bucket to give the hosts an 11-7 lead after the first period of play. She then made a breakaway layup off a steal, followed by a Poling trey. 

Bacon converted three two-point goals in the second stanza as the Bear girls took the quarter, 13-10. 

Twin sister Addy Bacon drained a trifecta and a two-pointer in the period as the siblings combined for 11 points. 

Thomas added the other Northern basket in the quarter.

Poling drained a pair of three-point goals in the second period to keep Ada close. Emily Gibson and Conley sank a bucket apiece as the Bulldogs stayed in striking distance, down 24-17 at intermission.

The Bulldogs won a low-scoring third quarter 8-7 to pull within 31-25 heading to the final stanza. Thomas hit two baskets in the period to keep HN ahead by six.

In the fourth period, Thomas converted all four of her free throw attempts to help keep Ada at bay. HN sank seven of its 12 charity stripers in the final quarter as Baylie Bacon knocked down their lone basket of the period.

Poling, Conley, freshman Lucy Carter and freshman Te’a Griffith each scored two points for Ada in the fourth stanza. Carter splashed all four of her foul shots in the second half.

The Polar Bear defense pressed most of the game.

Junior guard Poling topped Ada with 12 points. Conley tallied nine markers. 

Sophomores Gibson, Carter and Griffith netted four points apiece.

HN placed three players in double figures as Thomas led all players with 13 points. Both Bacon sisters tallied 11 markers.

Ada connected on 11 deuces, drained two triples and sank five of seven free throws (71 percent). 

HN canned 13 two-pointers, splashed a pair of trifectas and converted eight of their 17 free throws (47 percent).

Ada (0-1 BVC) resumes Blanchard Valley Conference play Thursday, Dec. 4 at struggling Vanlue (0-2, 0-1 BVC). The Wildcats lost 46-7 at league foe McComb in their opener, and fell at Elgin 61-22 on Monday.

Through three games, Ada is averaging 37.7 points a game while allowing 41 ppg.

Ada 33 (1-2)

Poling 5 0-1 12, St. Laurent 0 0-0 0, Gibson 2 0-0 4, Smith 0 0-0 0, Carter 0 4-4 4, Conley 4 1-2 9, Griffith 2 0-0 4, Hevlin 0 0-0 0. Totals: 11-2/5-7/33. 3-pointers: Poling 2.

HN 40 (2-0)

Thomas 4 4-7 13, A. Bacon 5 0-0 11, B. Bacon 5 1-4 11, Spearman 0 0-0 0, Camper 1 1-2 3, Ayers 0 1-2 1, Couch 0 1-2 1.

Totals: 13-2/8-17/40. 3-pointers: Thomas 1, A. Bacon 1.

No JV game.

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