By Cort Reynolds
ADA - Visiting Lima Central Catholic methodically defeated Ada 63-33 in non-conference girls basketball action Thursday night.
Lady Thunderbird senior post Rosie Williams muscled her way to 31 points inside to pace LCC to victory.
The Bulldog girls fell to 5-10 overall with the defeat, while the T-Bird girls improved to 8-7 with the victory.
"We just had no energy to start the game," said Ada second-year head coach Morgan Bass. "We had no answer for Williams and got off to a slow start.
"LCC is good," she continued. "They have a perfect combination of a big girl inside and shooters outside who can hurt you."
LCC ran out to a 21-6 first period lead as Williams dominated by tallying four field goals and three foul shots. The Mulcahy twins each nailed a three-point goal in the opening stanza.
Bulldog freshman point guard Courtney Sumner netted three baskets to score all the purple and gold points in the first quarter.
Sumner hit two foul shots and sophomore Kirsten Poling scored four points as Ada netted the first six points of the second period to rally within 21-12. But then Williams canned a stickback layin at the 5:33 mark.
Ada junior Alexis Waugh sank a basket a half minute later to pull the hosts within nine. Another LCC putback and two power layups from Williams extended the margin to 29-14 1:42 before intermission.
Bulldog Poling split two foul shots to end the spurt, but Williams drove the lane for a southpaw layin and a 31-15 halftime cushion.
Williams scored 21 first half markers to lead the Thunderbirds to a 16-point margin.
Mary Kelly Mulcahy splashed a right corner triple to open the second half for LCC. Another Williams putback inside stretched the lead to 36-15 at the seven-minute mark.
Poling drained a 16-footer from just behind the foul line. She then converted two free throws 15 seconds later to inch Ada within 36-19.
T-Bird freshman Olivia Stolly then canned two free throws and hit a stickback layup. Erin Mulcahy knocked down a left basleine 15-footer to make it 40-21.
A lefty layin and a fast break finish from Williams sandwiched around two Waugh foul shots make 46-21.
Ada junior post Miranda Wills and Sumner each netted a pair of charity stripers to get the Bulldogs within 49-25 after three periods.
An offensive rebound basket and two foul shots by Williams made it 53-25. Wills split a pair at the line, but Peyton Craig canned a short bank shot.
Poling drained a left wing triple, but Stolly responded with a stickback hoop. Craig then bounced in a baseline shot, followed by two Sumner free tosses.
Poling and T-Bird Kennedy Parker traded 17-footers to finish the scoring.
Poling and Sumner each scored a dozen points to lead Ada. Wills added five markers and Waugh tallied four.
"Kirsten looked at the basket and was more active," said Bass.
Stolly scored 10 points to support Williams as the other T-Bird in double figures.
The Ada girls sank nine baskets, including eight two-pointers and one from three-point range. The Lady Bulldogs canned 14 of 22 from the charity stripe (64 percent).
The Thunderbird girls made 22 two-pointers and drained three three-point baskets. The T-Birds converted 10 of 13 at the foul line (77 percent).
LCC also won the two-quarter reserve game, 34-11. Selena Jordan led the Ada JVs with six points.
LCC 63 (8-7)
Luchini 0, Young 0 1-1 1, B. Mulcahy 1 0-0 2, Stolly 4 2-4 10, E. Mulcahy 2 0-0 5, Williams 13 5-6 31, Parker 1 0-0 2, Craig 2 0-0 4, M. Mulcahy 2 2-2 8.
Totals: 25/10-13/63. 3-pointers: M. Mulcahy 2, E. Mulcahy 1.
Ada 33 (5-10)
Sumner 4 4-4 12, Poling 4 3-8 12, Light 0 0-2 0, Acheson 0, Waugh 1 2-2 4, Wills 0 5-6 5, Jordan 0, Phillips 0.
Totals: 9/14-22/33. 3-pointer: Poling 1.
1 2 3 4 F
LCC 21 10 18 14 63
Ada 6 9 10 8 33
JV: LCC 34, Ada 11.
Ada (2-5 home) hosts Hardin County foe Ridgemont (4-7) Monday, January 20.
