By Cort Reynolds
CRIDERSVILLE - The Ada girls basketball team rallied late but came up just short in a 49-43 loss at Perry in a non-league battle Saturday afternoon.
The defeat dropped Ada to 1-3 overall, while the Lady Commodores earned their second victory.
Perry led 24-11 at halftime and extended the margin to 40-20 heading to the final quarter. A 23-point Ada outburst in the final period helped the Bulldog girls inch within four points late, but the rally was not quite enough.
"I was disappointed, we were not ready to play and got outhustled," said Ada second-year head coach Morgan Bass. "However, we did make a comeback in the fourth but it was too late and not enough.
"I think we missed around 15 layups and Miranda Wills broke her nose again (mid second quarter)," she added.
Ada freshman playmaker Courtney Sumner and sophomore guard Kirsten Poling tallied nine points apiece. Junior wing Alexis Waugh also netted nine points. Soph guard Timber Blankenship added six markers.
Perry junior Tia Barfield led all scorers with 20 points. Commodore sophomore Lily Floyd netted a dozen points, and Trinity Gurley added 11 markers.
Ada sank 18 field goals, including one trifecta. They canned six of nine foul shots (67 percent).
Perry made 20 baskets, including three three-pointers. The Commodores also converted six of 12 foul shots (50 percent).
The Bulldogs will get a rematch at home vs. Perry January 7. The purple and gold beat the Commodores at Ada last season.
Ada 43 (1-3)
Sumner 4 0-1 9, Poling 4 1-2 9, Light 3 0-0 6, Blankenship 3 0-0 6, Acheson 0, Wills 0 2-2 2, Waugh 3 3-4 9, Jordan 1 0-0 2.
Totals: 18/6-9/43. 3-pointer: Sumner 1.
Perry 49 (2-0)
Gurley 4 2-2 11, Miller 1 0-0 3, Denson 0 1-2 1, Floyd 5 2-5 12, Barfield 9 1-1 20, Shively 1 0-0 2, Healey 0.
Totals: 20/6-12/49. 3-pointers: Gurley 1, Barfield 1, Miller 1.
1 2 3 4 F
Ada 6 5 9 23 43
Per 12 12 16 9 49
JV: Perry 24, Ada 13.
Ada (0-1 home) returns home to host Riverdale Tuesday, December 10. The team is hoping Wills will not have to undergo surgery on her nose, which was broken last season as well. She has been playing with a facial mask since early last season.
Riverdale beat Hardin Northern 45-33 November 25. Ada also beat HN 36-31 this past Tuesday. "It should be a good game vs. Riverdale," said Bass.
Ada (0-1 NWC) then hosts tough Bluffton (4-1, 1-0 NWC) Thursday, Dec. 12 in a league battle.
