Story and photos by Cort Reynolds
ADA - The youthful Ada girls basketball program has a new coach in a familiar face as all-time program scoring leader Morgan (Dumbaugh) Bass returns to take over the reins.
With no seniors and just two juniors to go with seven sophomores and four freshmen, the new head coach will have a very inexperienced varsity roster to work with.
The 2017-18 Lady Bulldogs finished 4-18 overall (0-8 in Northwest Conference) under veteran mentor Bill Taflinger, who resigned after the season.
"It is exciting to come back to Ada, it means a lot," said Bass, who has spent the last four seasons coaching JV and junior high basketball at Lima Senior and Lima South. "It is extra special to have played here and now to have the chance to get the program back to where it used to be.
"The kids on the team now were probably in kindergarten when I played," she added. "We are a young team."
Bass started for four years during the successful nine-year tenure of her father/coach Neal Dumbaugh, who resurrected the program and directly preceded Taflinger's four-season run.
Bass went on to become the all-time leading scorer for the Ohio Northern University women's program, a mark broken last year by Amy Bullimore. But this rebuilding season will call on all her hoop experiences as it looks like a challenging season for the Lady Bulldog cagers.
Sophomore scrapper Miranda Wills is the only returning letter winner in the program after playing a part-time starter role last season.
Bass says the 5-8 Wills will have to be a leader on the court for Ada. "We are asking a lot of her to be our main ballhandler and point guard," said Bass.
"She is a hustler and very competitive," she added.
Megan Light, a 5-11 sophomore post, is the team's tallest player and will need to use her size and length to be a factor at both ends of the court. "She just needs to be more aggressive," noted Bass of Light, who blossomed into a first team All-NWC volleyballer this fall.
Kirsten Poling, a promising 5-9 freshman, is expected to start at guard. "She is a competitor and is not afraid to drive to the hole," said Bass. "I expect her to be aggressive around the basket."
Alexis Waugh will likely hold down the other starting post position. A solidly built 5-8, she is a "hustler who has a decent shot when she gets her feet set," said Bass. "She will fight for rebounds."
The fifth starter will probably be either 5-8 sophomore guard Kylie Acheson or 5-8 sophomore guard Brenna George.
Madison Dershem, a 5-9 junior transfer from Elida, will be eligible the second half of the season and could be a key contributor.
Wills, Poling and Light will likely shoulder most of the scoring load, with aid from several others.
Sophomore 5-9 post Kylie Shafer and Kiersten Cortez, a 5-6 guard, are the other second-year players on the 12-player varsity roster.
Freshmen Brook Phillips (5-9 guard), Selena Jordan (5-8 post) and Timber Blankenship (5-5 guard) round out the varsity roster. Junior Afia Okyere, a 5-9 post, will probably play some varsity as well as junior varsity, as will 5-5 freshman guard Morgan Dirmeyer.
With low roster numbers at Ada and other area schools, the JV team will play two-quarter games for the second straight season.
"We have some potentially very good leaders," Bass pointed out. "We have amazing chemistry and a team bond; the girls get along and love each other.
"They have improved a lot in a short time," she added. "They give good effort, have a good attitude and leave it on the floor."
Proven returning scoring, ballhandling and a lack of experience are areas of concern.
As for the NWC favorites Bass says Crestview, Lincolnview, Bluffton and defending champion Columbus Grove (7-1 NWC last year) will probably be the top three teams. Crestview, Spencerville and Bluffton all tied for second at 6-2.
The Lady Pirates return two first team all-league seniors in Alivia Koenig and Averey Rumer and should contend for the league title.
"I hope to get four to five wins or better overall," she offered. "We want to get better day by day, work hard and have a positive attitude.
"It is a rough road right now, but the future looks better. Right now we are basically a JV team playing a varsity schedule."
Ada tips off its campaign at local non-league foe Cory-Rawson Nov. 27. The home opener is December 4 vs. county rival Hardin Northern, and the NWC lidlifter is Dec. 6 at Bluffton.
The Lady Bulldogs will also host the second annual Border Battle tournament Dec. 27/29. Ada, Waynesfield, USV and defending champion Allen East are the four area rivals who will compete for the title.
Ada beat the Lady Tigers in the semis at the inaugural Border Battle last December. The Bulldogs then led late in the championship game before losing to AE 39-32.
