By Cort Reynolds
McComb - Hot-shooting host McComb ran out to a big early lead and rolled to a 63-32 non-conference girls basketball win over Ada Saturday.
The Lady Bulldogs fell behind 31-9 after the first period and never recovered. Panther junior guard Malorie Schroeder poured in 14 of her game-high 23 points in the opening stanza to lead the early outburst.
The Bulldog girls fell to 5-9 overall with the defeat, while McComb improved to 6-4 with the victory.
"They were not missing and we could not match up defensively," said Ada second-year head coach Morgan Bass of the 31-point first period. "We honestly did not play bad. We did some really good things, and I wasn't displeased with their efforts.
"I felt like McComb just couldn't miss in the first half," she continued. "They reminded me of Bluffton last year; they can all shoot, and they are big and physical."
Freshman guard Courtney Sumner led Ada with 11 points, while sophomore Kirsten Poling added seven. Junior Kylie Acheson scored six points on two triples, and classmate Miranda Wills also netted six.
"Kirsten Poling had her best game of the season so far," noted Bass.
McComb junior wing Olivia Miehls netted 15 points with two triples to aid Schroeder. Sophomore Eliza DeHart added 10 markers.
The Ada girls sank a dozen baskets, including seven two-pointers and five from three-point range. The Lady Bulldogs canned three of six from the charity stripe (50 percent).
The Panthers girls made 22 two-pointers among their 27 field goals. McComb also drained five three-point baskets. The Panthers converted four of five at the foul line (80 percent).
McComb 63 (6-4)
Grubb 1 0-0 2, Shoop 2 0-0 5, H. Schroeder 1 0-0 2, Mad. Schroeder 1 0-0 2, Miehls 6 1-2 15, Bryan 2 0-0 4, DeHart 5 0-0 10, Mal. Schroeder 9 2-3 23.
Totals: 27/4-5/63. 3-pointers: Schroeder 2, Miehls 2, Shoop 1.
Ada 32 (5-9)
Sumner 4 0-0 11, Poling 3 1-2 7, Light 0, Acheson 2 0-0 6, Waugh 1 0-0 2, Wills 2 2-4 6.
Totals: 12/3-6/32. 3-pointers: Sumner 3, Acheson 2.
1 2 3 4 F
McC 31 10 13 9 63
Ada 9 13 5 5 32
JV: McComb 19, Ada 5.
After playing four games in eight days, Ada (2-4 home) is idle until they host non-league foe LCC Thursday, January 16.
"LCC is pretty decent I think," said Bass. "Their post player Williams is pretty good. She is a big girl, so we will have issues matching up. They also jack up three's."
