PHOTOS by Mark Andreasen

By Cort Reynolds

ADA __The Ada High School boys basketball team jumped out to a huge early lead and crushed visiting Vanlue 65-15 in the Blanchard Valley Conference opener on Friday, December 5.

The Bulldogs outscored the Wildcats by a whopping 31-6 margin in the first period. Ada stretched the margin to 50-10 at halftime over the outmanned visitors.

A 15-5 Bulldog second half provided the final margin of 50 in the mismatch.

Ada improved to 2-0 overall and 1-0 in the BVC with the home victory.

Vanlue fell to 0-2 overall and 0-1 in BVC play after the defeat.

“We got off to a quick start,” said Ada head coach Chris Sautter. “The kids did a nice job on the defensive end. We forced some turnovers, blocked some shots and were able to get out in transition.

“We had at least 20 transition points,” he noted. 

Ada senior Kayleb Hickman tallied a game-high 16 points. Senior Zack Zimmerman contributed 13 markers. 

Junior Blake Zoladz scored eight points, while Tyler Stauffer and junior Carson Conley added seven apiece.

Connor McKean netted five points, and senior Gavin Oldfield added four.

“We had pretty balanced scoring, led by Kayleb with 16 and Zack with 13,” Sautter pointed out. Ten Bulldogs scored, with six players tallying five or more markers.

Vanlue senior Owen Roszman led the Wildcats with 10 points.

The Bulldogs sank 24 two-pointers and drained three triples. Ada converted eight from the charity stripe.

The Wildcats canned just four deuces and one triple against the stingy Ada defense. They sank four shots at the foul line.

The Bulldogs play at backyard rival Allen East (3-0) Saturday, Dec. 6. AE beat Temple Christian 51-47 Friday. The Mustangs edged the Bulldogs in an overtime thriller last season.

Ada’s scheduled home game with Ft. Jennings was postponed this past Tuesday and will be made up on February 10.

Ada 65 (2-0, 1-0 BVC)

Hickman 7-1-16, Zoladz 3-2-8, Conley 3-0-7, Oldfield 1-2-4, Zimmerman 6-0-13, McKean 2-1-5, Allen 1-0-2, Stauffer 3-1-7, A. Brown 1-0-2, C. Brown 0-1-1.

Totals: 24-3/8/65. 3-pointers: Zimmerman 1, Hickman 1, Conley 1. 

Vanlue 15 (0-2, 0-1 BVC)

Roszman 3-4-10, Hamilton 1-0-3, Shulaw 1-0-2.

Totals: 4-1/4/15. 3-pointer: Hamilton 1.

JV: Ada 60, Vanlue 6.

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