By Cort Reynolds

VAN BUREN __ The visiting Ada High School girls basketball team lost a defensive 35-29 battle to Van Buren in a Blanchard Valley Conference contest on January 16

The tough road defeat dropped the Bulldog record to 2-12 overall and 0-7 in the BVC. 

Van Buren improved to 6-8 overall and 4-3 in BVC play with the home victory.

“The girls played hard and battled all game,” said Bulldog third-year head coach Zach Ricker. 

Ada trailed 9-4 after a low-scoring first period. The Bulldogs stayed within striking distance at halftime, down just 16-10. Ada then tossed in 14 third-period points to forge a 24-24 tie.

Sophomore guard Kenley Poling drained three triples in the third stanza to spearhead the comeback. 

But the Black Knights were able to pull away late with an 11-5 fourth quarter to win by six. 

Poling topped Ada with nine points. Junior Anna Conley added seven markers. Ada sophomore Brooklynn Andreasen and freshman Mariah Burns each added four markers. 

Bailey Lance led VB with 15 points, including two triples. She netted five points in the decisive final period.

Ada canned nine deuces and drained three triples. The Bulldogs converted  two of their four foul shots (50 percent).

VB connected on six two-pointers and drilled six treys. The Black Knights canned five of 12 free throws (42 percent).

Ada 29 (2-12, 0-7 BVC)
Lawrence 0 0-0 0, K. Poling 3 0-0 9, Gibson 0 0-0 0, L. Poling 1 1-2 3, Hevlin 1 0-0 2, Burns 2 0-0 4, Conley 3 1-2 7, Andreasen 2 0-0 4.
Totals: 9-3/2-4/29. 3-pointers: K. Poling 3. 

VB 35 (6-8, 4-3 BVC)
Wilton 2 0-0 6, Lance 5 3-4 15, Bowman 2 0-0 4, Webster 2 1-2 6, Huddig 0 0-4 0, Ponn 1 1-2 4.

Totals: 6-6/5-12/35. 3-pointers: Lance 2, Wilton 2, Webster 1, Ponn 1.

Ada’s scheduled game at Ridgedale Tuesday, January 14 was postponed due to the cold and snow. No makeup date has been set. 

The Bulldogs play at county rival Ridgemont (4-7) Monday, January 20. They then host McComb in a league bout January 23.

The Ada girls are 2-6 on the road and 0-6 at home.