By Cort Reynolds
ADA - After a pair of rebuilding seasons, the Ada boys basketball team has the skill and experience inside to surprise fans this winter under third-year head coach Dre White.
Ada finished 4-19 overall and 2-6 in Northwest Conference play in 2017-18. But three starters and six lettermen return to help the Bulldogs get back to .500 or better this winter, led by honorable mention 6-6 senior post Connor Frazier.
"We have 65 percent of our scoring and 60 percent of our rebounding back this year," said White. "I am definitely excited about this season. We have improved chemistry and more experienced depth.
"If we rebound and take care of the ball, we have a lot of potential," he predicted.
Senior post Frazier, a solid scorer, rebounder and shot-blocker, will lead the way. "He had a good summer of playing AAU ball," said White. "He has taken on a leadership role and is our top rebounder and inside scorer."
Frazier has a good shooting inside touch but has to stay out of foul trouble for Ada to succeed. A solid passer, he will need to continue to see the floor well against the double teams he is likely to face this winter. His Ada teammates will have to hit the open looks they will get from Frazier.
Quick 5-9 senior guard Cade Mullins is one of those players who could be the beneficiary of open shots courtesy of the senior big man. He will play mostly off the ball at wing this season, yet is capable of running the point when needed.
Mullins has shown flashes of promise the past two seasons but needs to be more consistent and confident this season for Ada to achieve its potential. The speedy guard is a solid outside shooter once he gets his feet set.
"Cade is our hardest worker," said White. "He is quick, talented and will have to score more for us this season. He has the green light to shoot, and we need him to knock perimeter shots down."
Strong and quick 5-10 sophomore Brandon Hull will be asked to take over the crucial role of playmaker. A good penetrator and fine passer, his ballhandling skills and ability to create for others will hopefully spearhead the offense - and stabilize a team plagued by turnovers last year.
"We turned the ball over on 25 percent of our possessions last year," observed White. "Limiting turnovers is a major goal this year. Brandon is our best player off the dribble at getting to the hoop. He is an incredible passer. I am excited about him running the point."
Speedy sophomore returnee Zac Swaney will likely round out the team's speedy three-guard lineup. "Zac is quick and has a good shot," said White.
"He is a very good defender," said White of the feisty Swaney. "He will probably guard the other team's best guard. We are asking a lot of him defensively, and he will also do most of the ballhandling besides Brandon."
Junior 6-1 wing Phillip Coulson will provide scoring punch as the team's second-leading pointmaker back after Frazier. "Phil will have to knock down shots for us," said White. A good athlete, Coulson is a solid competitor with a high motor who can also drive to basket and make off-balance shots.
Strong senior 6-2 post Ethan Hall also returns to the team after starting part-time last winter. He is a physical, smart player who will provide quality post depth.
Junior Philipe Gautier is a French exchange student who could contribute a lot depending on how he develops. At 6-3, the wing/post has good length and athleticism. He could surprise under a regimen of daily practice after playing sparingly in France.
Rounding out the varsity roster are strong 6-3 junior post Ty Miller, 5-8 junior post Bryce Paul, and good-shooting 5-11 sophomore guard Micah Cook, son of former Ada head coach Jon Cook.
As far as the NWC race goes, White says defending champion "Crestview is very tough with the Etzler brothers back to go with a good guard in Drew Kline. Grove returns Blake Reynolds (under ex-Ada mentor Chris Sautter), while Lincolnview and Paulding look tough as well."
Crestview was 8-0 last year in the league, followed by arch-rival Lincolnview at 6-1 and Paulding (5-3).
"I would like to see ada in the middle of the pack or as high as the three/four spots," White noted of the nine-team league standings. The Bulldogs beat Allen East at home and knocked off Spencerville in double overtime on the road to provide their two league wins.
Ada was 3-7 at home and 1-10 on the road last year, but competed better away from home. They also improved their rebounding, meeting a pre-season goal White set.
Overall, the outlook looks promising as Ada could be a surprise sleeper in the NWC if Frazier dominates inside like he can, and if Hull plays up to his high capabilities as the new point guard.
With less size and s small three-guard lineup, White is admittedly a bit nervous about the Bulldogs on the boards, especially if Frazier is not on the court.
"Obviously we need Connor to be big on the boards," White noted. "Phil will have to rebound a lot and the guards have to rebound." Hull has good strength and aggression, and could be a solid contributor on the glass as well.
"We have to figure out how to score, limit our turnovers and just shoot better," summed up White. The high-arching shots of Swaney and Mullins will be key in this regard, and the streaky Coulson can score in bunches.
Veteran ex-Allen East head coach Rick Sherrick returns to the Bulldog staff as a varsity assistant, with his son Jacob again serving as the junior varsity mentor.
The season opener is November 30 at county foe Ridgemont. The home opener will be Dec. 7 vs. non-league traditional power Kalida.
The NWC season tips off Dec. 14 at backyard rival Allen East, with the first league home game slated for Dec. 21 vs. Delphos Jefferson.
Ada also will host the second annual Border Battle tournament Dec. 28-29 featuring Waynesfield and local rivals USV and AE.
The Bulldogs lost a tough 62-56 BB semifinal to eventual runner-up host Waynesfield last year. Ada then fell in a 52-47 nailbiter to AE in a third-place rematch game after beating the Mustangs just a few weeks earlier in league play.
