PHOTOS by Mark Andreasen / CLICK to enlarge and view at your own pace

By Cort Reynolds

ADA__The Ada High School boys basketball team methodically defeated visiting non-conference foe Elmwood 54-42 in a Blanchard Valley Conference contest on Friday, December 19.

Ada jumped to a 15-6 lead after the first quarter as five different Bulldogs sank baskets. The Royals edged within 26-19 at halftime to stay within striking distance. 

But the balanced Bulldogs outscored the visitors 13-7 in the third quarter to extend their lead to 13 points heading to the final stanza. Ada withstood a four-trey barrage in the fourth quarter to win by 12.

“The kids responded well after Tuesday’s loss,” said Bulldog head coach Chris Sautter. “We adjusted well to the multiple defenses Elmwood played.

”We got much-needed balanced scoring,” he noted. “Kayleb scored 14, Blake 10, Carson and Zack nine each, and Gavin had six. We defended pretty well and made them earn everything.”

Ada improved to 5-2 overall and 3-0 in BVC play with the convincing home victory.  

Elmwood fell to 1-5 overall and 1-2 in the BVC after the defeat.

Versatile senior Kayleb Hickman led Ada with 14 points. He scored six points in the second period and tallied five more in the third with a trifecta and a deuce. 

In the fourth stanza, Bulldog senior Zack Zimmerman tallied all nine of his points. 

Junior Blake Zoladz scored a career-best 10 points on five baskets. Bulldog junior Carson Conley also netted nine markers. Zoladz and Conley each scored four points in the third quarter.

Elmwood drained four triples in the fourth period to edge Ada 16-15 in the final stanza, but still lost by a dozen.

Junior guard Owen Traxler led the Royals with 15 points on the strength of three treys. He nailed two triples and netted eight points in the fourth period.

Elmwood junior Kason Hammer and senior Landry Seedorf scored 11 points apiece. Hammer also canned three three-point goals.

The Bulldogs connected on 15 two-point goals and drained four triples. Ada converted 12 of 13 throws (92 percent).

Elmwood canned seven deuces and drilled eight treys. The Royals sank all four of their foul shots (100 percent).

The Bulldogs play at winless non-league rival Cory-Rawson (0-6) on Saturday, Dec. 20. The Hornets lost at USV Friday, 69-45.

Ada is 5-1 at home and 0-1 on the road. Their lone away game so far was an overtime loss at 5-0 rival Allen East on Dec. 6.

Ada 54 (5-2, 3-0 BVC)

Oldfield 2 2-2 6, Zimmerman 2 4-5 9, Stauffer 1 0-0 2, Conley 2 4-4 9, Zoladz 5 0-0 10, Allen 0 0-0 0, McKean 0 0-0 0, Hickman 5 2-2 14, Griffith 2 0-0 4.

Totals: 15-4/12-13/54. 3-pointers: Hickman 2, Zimmerman 1, Conley 1.

Elmwood (1-5, 1-2 BVC)

Hammer 4 0-0 11, Seedorf 5 0-0 11, Simon 1 0-0 3, Keiffer 0 2-2 2, Traxler 5 2-2 15. Totals: 7-8/4-4/42. 3-pointers: Traxler 3, Hammer 3, Simon 1, Seedorf 1.

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