The Ada High School boys basketball team fell behind early and lost 49-34 to visiting local rival Allen East in Northwest Conference action Friday night, January 7.
AE jumped out to a 17-3 lead over the first 12 minutes, yet Ada clawed back within 10 points behind a third period rally.
But the Mustangs began the final quarter on a 7-0 run to stem the Ada momentum and any thought of a Bulldog comeback.
"We only had 10 points at halftime, that is atrocious," said first-year Ada head coach Vince Halliday. "My three guys who have all had 25-point games this year combined for 19."
The Bulldogs fell to 4-7 overall and 0-3 in the NWC with the defeat. AE improved to 6-4 and 2-0 NWC with the victory.
Mustang Garett Newland scored the first five AE points, sandwiched around a turnaround banker from Ada senior Cayden Murphy, to start the game.
AE's Jacob Hershberger drained a triple, and Carter Young capped an 11-0 Mustang flurry with a fast break layup to give the visitors a 13-2 edge.
Zach Miller opened the second stanza by nailing a left corner trey. Grant Preston head-faked his way to a layup for Ada, then assisted Murphy on a layin to keep Ada within 21-7.
A right wing trifecta by Ethan Murphy made it 22-10 with 3:23 left in the first half.
Hershberger then made a nice backcourt steal and layup. Miller drained another triple to give AE a commanding 29-10 intermission cushion.
"Allen East had 10 offensive rebounds at halftime, but only two in the second half," noted Halliday.
Ada came out strong to start the third period on an 8-0 run. Ethan Murphy sank a left side trey, followed by a 17-footer from the circle by Cayden Murphy.
Carter Conley then buried a top of the key trifecta to edge within 29-18 two minutes into the second half.
Keaton Miller stemmed the momentum with consecutive baskets for AE. But Cayden Murphy canned a layup and Conley sank another trey from the left side to inch Ada within 33-23. But the Bulldogs then missed a transition bunny late in the period.
"We missed a fast break layup there that could have cut it to eight," Halliday lamented.
A Hershberger foul shot gave AE an 11-point margin heading to the final period.
Ada needed a spurt early in the fourth to get back within striking distance, but it was AE who flurried instead. The Mustangs began the stanza on a deflating 7-0 run to regain control.
Keaton Miller hit a spinning nine-footer to start the spurt. Carson Clum converted a transition scoop layin. Keaton Miller then completed a conventional three-play inside for a 41-23 lead with 5:56 remaining.
Ethan Murphy drained five straight free throws to cut the deficit to 13. But Hershberger made a driving layup, followed by a left-handed finish from Newland.
Newland then drilled a 10-footer to build the margin to 19 at 47-28.
Spencer Wall scored for Ada, followed by a layup from Jaden Leal and a fast break layin from Cayden Murphy to slice the final margin to 15.
Keaton Miller topped AE with 14 points, while Hershberger contributed 10. Newland added nine markers.
"I am happy we were able to hold Newland to nine points," said Halliday. "But the easiness of their other baskets in transition and off turnovers hurt us."
Cayden and Ethan Murphy led Ada with 11 points apiece.
The Bulldogs committed 18 costly turnovers, nine in each half. "I can live with aggressive turnovers, but not passive ones; live ball turnovers hurt us in the first half," said Halliday.
Ada splashed 12 baskets, canning eight two-pointers and four trifectas. The Bulldogs converted six of seven shots at the charity stripe (86 percent).
AE drained 18 baskets, knocking down 14 two-pointers and four treys. The Mustangs hit on nine of 13 free throw attempts (69 percent).
AE also won the reserve contest, 43-20. Caleb Hopkins led the Mustangs with 11 points. Casen Jones topped the Bulldogs with six markers.
Ada 34 (4-7, 0-3 NWC)
C. Murphy 5 1-2 11, Conley 2 0-0 6, Sutherly 0, Leal 1 0-0 2, Wall 1 0-0 2, Preston 1 0-0 2, E. Murphy 2 5-5 11.
Totals: 8-4/6-7/34. 3-pointers: Conley 2, E. Murphy 2.
AE 49 (6-4, 2-0 NWC)
Clum 1 0-0 2, Newland 4 0-0 9, Hershberger 4 1-2 10, Lehman 0 2-2 2, Z. Miller 2 1-2 7, Young 1 1-2 3, Hutchinson 1 0-0 2, K. Miller 5 4-5 14.
Totals: 14-4/9-13/49. 3-pointers: Newland 1, Hershberger 1, Z. Miller 2.
1 2 3 4 F
Ada 3 7 13 11 34
AE 14 15 5 15 49
JV: AE 43, Ada 20.
Ada visits traditional arch-rival USV (9-0) Saturday, January 8. The Rams beat Ada 59-27 Dec. 29 in the Border Battle semifinals at Harrod en route to the title over AE. USV was idle Friday night.
