By Cort Reynolds
Playing at home, the Ada High School girls basketball team defeated Calvary Christian convincingly 51-27 in a non-conference game early Saturday afternoon, January 14.
The Bulldogs improved to 7-8 with the victory, while CC fell to 6-2 with the defeat.
"It was a great team win," said Ada head coach Zach Ricker. "It was nice to come out on a quick turnaround and get a win after Thursday night.
"It was probably our most balanced game of the year offensively," he added.
Ada jumped out to an 8-2 lead as Lexi Poling scored four quick points. Layups by Anna Conley and Courtney Sumner extended the lead to 12-2.
Katie Sizemore canned a fast break layin off a Sumner feed to make it 14-2 with 3:11 left in the first period.
Ada led 14-3 after the opening stanza and was never threatened.
Two Spartan three-pointers pulled the visitors within 15-9 with 5:28 left in the first half. Sumner then drove left through the defense for a layup to end a Bulldog scoring drought.
"We had a little five-minute lull there," said Ricker.
Spartan Hannah Marlow hit a follow shot, but Sizemore canned a left side 10-footer. Olivia Burkhart stole the ball and made a layup. She then sank a runner to provide a 23-11 cushion.
CC's Abigail Reinhard scooped up a loose ball and made a breakaway layin. Autumn Andreasen sank a layup off a Poling assist with five seconds left in the half.
Sumner then swiped a pass and laid it in at the buzzer to stretch the Bulldog lead to 14 at intermission.
Sumner buried a right corner triple one minute into the second half. King sank a short banker off a nice Sumner drive and dish.
Spartan Anna Kratz canned two foul shots to end the 9-0 Ada run. Poling split two charity stripers.
After a CC basket, lefty King banked in a one-footed runner. Conley drained two free throws. Sumner stole the ball, was fouled and made one free toss.
Marlow swished a trifecta from the top of the key with just over three minutes left in the period. The speedy King ran out and canned a fast break layup. Burkhart stole the ball and fed Sumner for another layin and a 42-20 bulge at the 2:27 mark.
King hit a 10-foot banker, and Poling made a fast break layin just before the quarter buzzer to give Ada a 46-20 lead.
Conley split two foul shots to open the final period. Poling sank a nice backdoor layup from Sumner. Marlow canned a putback layin, and Sumner bounced in a transition runner.
Reinhard sank a short shot and a free throw, followed by a Marlow banker.
Bulldog senior guard Sumner led all scorers with 16 points. King added eight points. "Mariah can be a threat running the floor," said Ricker.
Marlow led CC with 13 points.
CC connected on 10 baskets, sinking seven deuces and three treys. The visitors hit four of six foul shots (67 percent).
Ada connected on 22 baskets, including 21 deuces and one triple. The Bulldogs converted six of 12 at the charity stripe (50 percent).
The Bulldogs won the two-quarter reserve game, 25-6. Ashley Hevlin led Ada with 11 points.
CC 27 (5-2)
Reinhard 3 1-2 7, Cook 1 0-0 3, Hurley 1 0-0 2, Kratz 0 2-2 2, Marlow 5 1-2 13.
Totals: 7-3/4-6/27. 3-pointers: Marlow 2, Cook 1.
Ada 51 (7-8)
King 4 0-0 8, Hevlin 0 0-2 0, Gibson 0, Sumner 7 1-2 16, Burkhart 2 0-0 4, Andreasen 2 0-0 4, Poling 4 2-4 10, Sizemore 2 0-0 4, Conley 1 3-4 5.
Totals: 21-1/6-12/51. 3-pointer: Sumner 1.
1 2 3 4 F
CC 3 10 7 7 27
Ada 14 13 19 5 51
JV: Ada 25, CC 6.
Ada plays at Hardin County foe Ridgemont (0-10) in a non-league game Monday night, January 16.
The Bulldogs are then idle for eight days until they play traditional rival USV (3-10) Jan. 24.
"We have to figure out how to give ourselves a chance and start better against the above-average teams," said Ricker.
