By Cort Reynolds
OTTOVILLE - The visiting Ada boys basketball team battled hard but lost at tough Ottoville 68-51 Saturday night in a non-league contest.
The Big Green improved to 2-1 with the home victory, while the Bulldogs fell to 1-3 with the defeat.
"It was a great effort from our guys for 3.5 quarters," said Bulldog fourth-year head coach Dre White. "It was a single possession game in the fourth quarter, and then we ran out of gas."
Ada trailed 16-8 following the first period, but the Bulldogs rallied within 32-27 by halftime. The Big Green led 42-36 after three quarters, then held off the feisty Bulldogs at the foul line to win behind a 26-15 fourth period.
"I am extremely proud of our effort and fight for both games this weekend," White noted. "Effort is becoming a constant for us, and that is something our staff has to be pleased with."
The Bulldogs made 17 of 47 shots from the field (36 percent). They canned five of 13 beyond the arc (38 percent) and sank 12 of 34 from two-point range (35 percent).
Ada converted 12 of 15 from the charity stripe (80 percent), their best showing from the foul line this season. The Bulldogs have made 30 of 62 from the foul line (48 percent) through four games.
The Green shot an even 50 percent across the board from the floor. They sank 21 of their 42 total field goal tries (50 percent). Ottoville made 14 of 28 from two-point range (50 percent), and drained seven of 14 from three-point territory (50 percent).
Ottoville canned 19 of 24 at the foul line (79 percent).
Sophomore point guard Brandon Hull led Ada with a career-high 23 points. Senior Phillip Coulson added 11 points. Juniors Micah Cook and Zac Swaney each canned two triples for the Bulldogs.
Ada was out-rebounded by the Green, 31-23. Hull topped the Bulldogs with five rebounds. Ada committed a season-worst 15 turnovers, while Ottoville was guilty of 13 miscues.
Senior guard Joe Miller paced all scorers with 19 points for Ottoville. Sophomore Will Miller contributed 13 points, while senior Drew Fisher tallied 10. Junior Caden Elderbrock added eight.
Ada lost the junior varsity game 44-31 to drop to 2-2.
Ada 51 (1-2)
Swaney 2-0-6, Hull 7-8-23, Coulson 5-1-11, Rayl 1-0-2, Cook 3-1-7, Miller 0-2-2.
Totals: 17-47/12-15/51. 3-pointers (5-13): Swaney 2, Cook 2, Hull 1.
Ottoville 68 (2-1)
Miller 4-9-19, Schlagbaum 1-2-4, Manns 2-1-6, Kortokrax 3-0-6, Miller 4-3-13, Fisher 4-2-10, Elderbrock 3-0-8, Langhals 0-2-2.
Totals: 21-42/19-24/68. 3-pointers (7-14): Miller 2, Miller 2, Elderbrock 2, Manns 1.
1 2 3 4 F
Ada 8 19 9 15 51
Ott 16 16 10 26 68
JV: Ottoville 44, Ada 31.
Ada (0-2 road) visits talented Bluffton (2-0) Friday, Dec. 13 in the Northwest Conference opener. The Pirates blew out Bath and won at Liberty-Benton this past weekend.
Ada then hosts NWCC foe Perry (3-1) Saturday, Dec. 14.
"It doesn't get any easier with two great teams next weekend," warned White.
