Playing in Coldwater, the Ada High School boys basketball team got off to a strong start but eventually lost 73-55 to St. Henry in Div. IV first round sectional play Tuesday night, February 22.
The Bulldogs led 20-19 after the first quarter, but fell behind 35-28 by halftime.
"We played well early," said Ada head coach Vince Halliday. "We scored easily but couldn't get stops. We gave up two easy layups on lobs, and a few too many second-chance points.
"In the second quarter they played a little more downhill and we had a hard time stopping the ball, got beat off the dribble.
St. Henry broke the game open with a 25-13 third period to build a lead of 60-41 heading to the final stanza.
Ada won the fourth period, 14-13.
"Overall, we competed to the end," Halliday added.
The Bulldogs finished the season 4-19 and on a 15-game losing streak. St. Henry improved to 13-10 with the win, and advanced to the sectional finals Friday evening vs. MAC rival New Bremen.
"We didn't know what to expect in year one," said Halliday. "But now we know, and we will put in the work to get better."
Senior Cayden Murphy led the Bulldogs with 21 points and five rebounds in his final Bulldog game.
"Cayden was really good in his last game," noted Halliday. "He earned honorable mention in our league meeting, and it was well-deserved.
"He was our only senior, and I am proud of the growth I have seen of him during this season," he said. "Even as the losses kept mounting he became a better leader, and stayed positive (as he) motivated this team.
Ada junior Ethan Murphy tallied 11 points on the strength of three triples. Junior Carter Conley contributed 10 points with two treys.
Bulldog junior Grant Preston added seven points and four caroms. Spencer Wall chipped in with three points and three boards.
Ada found the range on 21 field goals, sinking 15 two-pointers and six trifectas. The Bulldogs converted seven of 15 charity stripe tries (47 percent).
The Redskins canned 29 field goals, connecting on 21 two-pointers while sinking eight triples.
Sam Koesters and Luke Beyke led four Redskins in double figures with 19 points apiece. Jaden Lange tallied 15 markers, and Seth Heitkamp added 13 points.
The four Redskins combined to tally 66 of the 73 St. Henry points.
SH converted seven of 10 free throw attempts (70 percent).
Ada 55 (4-19)
C. Murphy 8 5-10 21, Conley 4 0-0 10, Wall 1 1-2 3, Leal 1 1-3 3, Preston 3 0-0 7, Sutherly 0, E. Murphy 4 0-0 11.
Totals: 15-6/7-15/55. 3-pointers: E. Murphy 3, Conley 2, Preston 1.
St. Henry 73 (13-10)
Heitkamp 5 3-6 13, Bowers 3 0-0 7, Lange 5 2-2 15, Koesters 7 2-2 19, Beyke 9 0-0 19.
Totals: 21-8/7-10/73. 3-pointers: Lange 3, Koesters 3, Beyke 1, Bowers 1.
1 2 3 4 F
Ada 20 8 13 14 55
St.H 19 16 25 13 73
