PHOTOS by Mark Andreasen / CLICK to enlarge

By Cort Reynolds

HARROD__The Ada High School girls basketball team battled backyard rival Allen East to the wire in Div. VI Northwest 5 sectional final play before losing 41-38 on Thursday, February 19 in Harrod.

AE took control of a close game at halftime behind a 13-6 third quarter where the Mustangs nailed three consecutive trifectas. After falling behind by 12 points in the fourth period, the Bulldogs rallied late but came up just short.

Youthful Ada finished its season with a 12-11 record after the tough road defeat. It was their first winning season in a decade. The Bulldogs return four starters and three key freshmen to ensure a promising future.

AE improved their record to an identical 12-11 mark with the hard-fought home tournament win. They advance to the district semifinals on Feb. 25 at Lima Senior vs. Riverdale.

“I am proud of the way we battled,” said Ada head coach Zach Ricker. “The girls have grown so much since the beginning of the year, and I am proud of each of them.”

The Mustangs led 7-5 with a minute left in the first period, and held a 9-6 advantage after the opening stanza as senior guard Rylie Jordan hit two baskets.

Ada freshman guard Lucy Carter and senior post Anna Conley each netted three points in the first period.

AE maintained an 18-15 edge midway through the second quarter after Mustang Harper Friesner sank two baskets.

Conley canned three buckets in the second stanza to help Ada inch within 18-17. The Bulldogs edged in front 19-18 at halftime on a lane shot by Bulldog freshman Tea Griffith with three seconds left before intermission.

Mustang senior Brynn Richardson canned a basket early in the second period. Conley passed nicely to Griffith for a layup that gave Ada a 21-20 edge early in the second half. 

However, Richardson nailed a trey from the top of the key to ignite a decisive 9-0 run and put AE back on top for good despite an Ada rally.

Brooklynn Crumrine drained a trey for a 26-21 Mustang lead. Evelyn Lehman then hit from beyond the arc to provide a 29-21 edge after the three-point barrage.

Griffith stopped the flurry with a basket at the 1:31 mark of the third quarter. Junior guard Kenley Poling then fed Griffith for another basket to inch Ada within 31-25 heading into the final stanza.

Lehman canned a trey, then stole the ball and made a layup in a five-second span to help propel AE to a 39-27 lead.

Griffith scored six fourth period points, including four of four free throw accuracy, to spark an 8-0 run as Ada rallied within 39-35 with 48.8 seconds remaining. 

Lehman and Crumrine each split a pair of foul shots in the fourth period, and Poling banked in a triple at the buzzer to provide the final margin of three.

Griffith topped all scorers with 16 points, 12 of which came in the second half. Conley netted 11 markers in her final Ada game. Poling added six points on two triples. It was also the last Bulldog game for senior Ashley Hevlin.

“I want to thank Anna and Ashley for everything they have given the program the last four years,” Ricker noted.

Lehman tallied nine points in the fourth period to pace AE with 15 points. Richardson netted eight markers, while Crumrine and Friesner contributed six apiece.

The Bulldog girls connected on 13 two-point goals, drilled a pair of triples and converted six of seven foul shots (86 percent). 

AE canned nine two-pointers and knocked down seven treys. The Mustangs sank just two of 10 free throws (20 percent). 

The former long-time league rivals had not played over the last two regular seasons since Ada left the Northwest Conference to join the Blanchard Valley Conference.

The Mustangs will play fourth seed Riverdale (12-10) on Wednesday, Feb. 25 at Lima Senior in the district semifinals.

The district final will be Saturday, Feb. 28 at 3 p.m. at Lima Senior.

Ada 38 (12-11)

Poling 2 0-0 6, St. Laurent 0 0-0 0, Gibson 1 0-0 2, Smith 0 0-0 0, Carter 1 1-1 3, Conley 5 1-2 11, Hevlin 0 0-0 0, Griffith 6 4-4 16. 

Totals: 13-2/6-7/38. 3-pointers: Poling 2.

AE 41 (12-11)

Crumrine 2 1-2 6, Miller 1 0-0 2, Jordan 2 0-4 4, Lehman 5 1-2 15, Friesner 3 0-0 6, Richardson 3 0-2 8.  

Totals: 9-7/2-10/41. 3-pointers: Lehman 4, Richardson 2, Crumrine 1.