By Cort Reynolds
The Ada boys basketball team harbored an upset bid into the fourth period at backyard rival Allen East before a huge Mustang closing run carried the hosts to a 69-55 Northwest Conference victory Friday night at Harrod.
Ada fell to 5-5 overall and 0-3 in the NWC with their second loss to the Mustangs in eight days. Meanwhile, AE improved to 6-3 overall and 1-1 in the NWC with the win.
"We were still only down four with six minutes left, and it got away from us," said second-year Ada head coach Vince Halliday. "We still turn it over too much and can't get stops or defensive rebounds when needed."
The Bulldogs trailed just 42-41 early in the fourth period after a basket by senior Jayden Bankston.
But Keaton Miller reeled off eight straight Mustang points to ignite a decisive 27-14 spurt to decide the outcome.
Miller poured in 17 of his game-high 21 points in the fourth period. AE canned all 11 of its free throw attempts in the final stanza as they outscored Ada 27-16 to key the outcome.
AE led 20-17 after a high-scoring first period.
The Bulldogs trailed 34-28 at intermission after senior Jayden Bankston and Mustang junior playmaker Carson Clum traded baskets in the final seconds.
Bulldog senior Carter Conley hit two free throws to open the second half. Mustang Keaton Lehman canned consecutive baskets, but Ada pulled within two behind a 6-0 run.
Spencer Wall made a bank shot, Conley stole the ball and finished a drive, and Grant Preston scored inside to inch the Bulldogs within 38-36.
AE senior Jacob Hershberger hit two foul shots and Lehman knocked down a putback to put the hosts back in front by six, 42-36.
A basket and a foul shot by Conley edged Ada within 42-39 after three periods.
Bankston's layup off a Jaden Leal feed to start the fourth quarter advanced the Bulldogs within a point. But then it became Miller time for AE.
Miller sank two free throws and a pair of triples, sandwiched around a Bankston basket, to shoot the Mustangs in front 50-43.
Two free throws each by Clum and Miller extended the lead to 54-43 and capped a decisive 12-2 run.
Senior Ethan Murphy splashed two free tosses for Ada. But Miller stayed hot with a follow shot and another basket that stretched the lead to 13.
AE soph guard Braelyn Schultz drove for his lone basket, followed by a spinning lefty hoop from Bankston.
Miller then completed a conventional three-point play to provide a 63-49 margin and finish his monster quarter. He scored 17 points in the game-changing 21-8 AE flurry.
Clum and Leal traded driving baskets, followed by a Wall hoop. Four AE foul shots closed the scoring.
"We were certainly better offensively in this game," said Halliday, referring to last Friday's 56-40 loss to AE in the Border Battle tournament finals. "We hung around longer in this one."
Wall topped Ada with 14 points. Murphy and Bankston tallied 11 points apiece. Conley scored all nine of his points in the second half, and led the team with seven rebounds.
Clum scored 13 of his 19 points in the first half. Lehman anetted 16 markers. Hershberger added eight points and nine rebounds.
Ada canned 18 two-point goals and connected on four treys for 22 baskets. AE sank 17 deuces and hit six triples for 23 total field goals.
Ada canned 51 percent of its field shots and 24 percent beyond the arc. AE found the net on 44 percent of its fielders, including 55 percent from three-point land.
The Bulldogs converted seven of nine shots from the free throw line (78 percent). AE hit on 17 of 22 charity stripers (77 percent) to help spell the difference.
Ada committed 15 turnovers to 13 errors by the Mustangs. AE won the rebound battle, 28-25.
Ada 55 (5-5, 0-3 NWC)
Bankston 5 0-0 11, Wall 6 0-0 14, Sutherly 0, Conley 3 3-4 9, Leal 3 0-0 6, Murphy 3 4-5 11, Preston 2 0-0 4.
Totals: 22-43/7-9/55. 3-pointers (4-17): Murphy 1, Wall 2, Bankston 1.
AE 69 (6-3, 1-1 NWC)
Schultz 1 0-2 2, Hershberger 1 6-8 8, Young 0, Clum 7 4-4 19, Lehman 6 2-3 16, Miller 7 5-5 21, Hensley 0, Hopkins 1 0-0 3.
Totals: 23-52/17-22/69. 3-pointers (6-11): Miller 2, Lehman 2, Clum 1, Hopkins 1.
1 2 3 4 F
Ada 17 11 11 16 55
AE 20 14 8 27 69
JV: AE 59, Ada 41.
