By Cort Reynolds

ADA–The Ada High School boys basketball team handed visiting non-conference foe Lincolnview its first defeat of the season 64-63 in an overtime thriller on Saturday, December 13.

Bulldog senior Zack Zimmerman drilled a clutch three-pointer at the buzzer of regulation to tie it 58-58 and force overtime.  

Then, with the Lancers ahead 63-62, Ada junior Carson Conley splashed two free throws with 2.3 seconds left in the extra session to provide the winning margin.

“Great team effort,” said veteran Bulldog head coach Chris Sautter. “We got huge plays from Zack Zimmerman and Carson Conley.

”Just a gritty, hard-fought game against a very good and well-coached opponent,” he noted.

Ada improved to 3-1 overall with the home victory. Meanwhile, former Northwest Conference rival Lincolnview dropped to 4-1 after the close defeat.

Conley tallied a season-high 22 points. Zimmerman splashed five trifectas en route to 17 points.  

“We played without a starter (Gavin Oldfield) due to sickness,” Sautter added.

Ada led 18-12 after the first period, but the Lancers fought back within 31-30 at halftime. The visitors forged ahead with an 18-9 third period to seize a 48-40 advantage heading to the fourth quarter.

In the fourth period, the Bulldogs battled back to tie it with an 18-10 stanza that forced OT after the Zimmerman triple. Ada then won the extra session, 6-5.

Bulldog T.J. Griffith netted eight points, and Ada senior Kayleb Hickman added six markers.

Lancer Max Hammons poured in a game-high 25 points with three triples. Marshall Hammons also drained three treys and scored 13 points.

The Bulldogs connected on 19 deuces and splashed six triples. Ada converted eight free throws.

Lincolnview canned 12 deuces and drilled nine treys. The Lancers sank 12 foul shots.

The Bulldogs entertain MAC foe New Knoxville (2-3) on Tuesday, Dec. 16. Ada (2-0 BVC) then hosts league foe Elmwood (1-2, 1-1 BVC) on Friday. Dec. 19.

Ada 64 (4-1)

Hickman 2-2-6, Zimmerman 6-0-17, Stauffer 1-0-2, Conley 8-5-22, Zoladz 2-1-5, Allen 2-0-4, Griffith 4-0-8.

Totals: 19-6/8/64. 3-pointers: Zimmerman 5, Conley 1.

L’view 63 (4-1)

Max Hammons 9-4-25, Coil 2-2-6, Evans 3-2-8, Overholt 2-2-8, Zielke 1-0-3, Marsh Hammons 4-2-13.

Totals: 12-9/12/63. 3-pointers: Max Hammons 3, Mar. Hammons 3, Overholt 2, Zielke 1.

JV: L’view 48, Ada 45.

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