By Cort Reynolds
Playing at home, the Ada High School boys basketball team decisively defeated Vanlue 77-55 to end the regular season on a high note Saturday afternoon, February 18.
The Bulldog senior duo of Spencer Wall and Carter Conley combined to pour in 52 points and celebrate Senior Day well.
Ada improved to 9-13 with the convincing non-conference victory. The Wildcats fell to 9-13 after the loss.
"It was a pretty solid effort; we led the whole way," said second-year Ada head coach Vince Halliday. "Carter got us going early, and Spencer carried us in the second period. They went out with big games.
"I was happy to put our nine seniors out on a winning note at home," he added.
Ada senior Casen Jones started the game by hitting a right wing trey on the first Bulldog possession. A layup by Bulldog Conley made it 7-0 before Wildcat ace Jerome Kloepfer answered with four points.
Wall swished a baseline floater. Conley then took over by nailing a left wing trey, and converting a driving reverse layup. He then stole the ball and made another layin.
His personal 7-0 run capped the quarter and propelled Ada ahead 16-6.
Wall then took over from Conley and canned four consecutive three-pointers in the second stanza. He connected from the left corner, then hit from the left top side.
Kloepfer drained a long triple, but Wall answered by drilling a three from the top of the key for a 26-11 Ada lead.
Kloepfer converted a driving scoop three-point play to cut the deficit to 12. Yet Wall responded by swishing a left wing trey with five minutes left in the half.
Bulldog senior Grant Preston then finished a baseline power layup for a 31-14 cushion. Another Kloepfer layin made it 31-18.
Conley splashed a left wing triple. But then Vanlue closed the half on a 9-2 run to pull within 36-28. J.R. Snook hit a layup, then fed Kloepfer for a nice backdoor finish.
Kloepfer's reverse layup was followed by a Jayden Bankston layin. Kloepfer made a foul shot. Snook then stole the ball and nailed a long trey at the buzzer to cut the Bulldog lead to eight.
Early in half two, Ada guard Jaden Leal made a steal and layup after two Conley foul shots to build the lead to 12.
Murphy splashed two free tosses, and Kloepfer made a driving finger roll. Conley sank a lane floater before Snook swished a foul line pull-up jumper.
Murphy hit a basket, two foul shots and then took a charge. T.J. Rickle canned two foul shots, followed by a Wall layin.
Conley maneuvered the left baseline for a short banker and a 53-34 lead. Snook spun into the lane for a nice layup.
Ada held for the last shot of the period, and executed well. Wall swished a 10-footer to punctuate a 19-8 quarter and provide a 19-point lead.
Kloepfer hit two charity stripers, followed by a one-footed Wall bank shot. Wall then drilled his fifth triple to provide a 60-38 cushion.
A Jacob Sutherly steal led to a Conley transition layup. Wall canned a putback. Kloepfer hit two foul shots and a tip-in. Conley made two bunnies and a pair of free tosses.
Preston finished a third effort basket around the hoop. Kloepfer made a spin move and spashed a left side triple.
Sophomore Ian House scored his first varsity basket for Ada just before time expired.
"I was impressed with how we came back from last night's loss (53-52); the guys were able to put it behind them," Halliday noted. "We played with good energy."
Conley scored 27 points in his home finale. Wall fired in 25 points with five trifectas.
Bulldog senior Murphy contributed 10 points.
"Murph was solid with 10 points, he took a charge and was our vocal leader," the coach observed.
The 6-2 Kloepfer, headed for Ohio Northern, led Vanlue with 32 points. Snook added 15 markers.
Ada canned 20 two-pointers and eight triples for 28 total baskets. The Bulldogs made 13 of 20 from the charity stripe (65 percent).
Vanlue sank 17 deuces and three treys for 20 buckets. The Wildcats converted 12 of 22 at the charity stripe (64 percent).
It was the last home game for nine Ada seniors: Conley, Wall, Murphy, Leal, Preston, Sutherly, Jones, Bankston and Gage Hoffer. Hoffer, Jones and Sutherly made their first starts of the season.
The Bulldog reserves won easily 61-24 to finish their season 8-11. Zack Zimmerman led Ada with 15 points. Brody Erickson added eight.
Ada 77 (9-13)
Bankston 1 1-3 3, Wall 10 0-0 25, Sutherly 0 0-0 0, Conley 10 5-6 27, Leal 1 0-0 2, Murphy 2 6-10 10, Preston 2 1-3 5, Jones 1 0-0 3, Gossard 0, Blankenship 0, House 1 0-0 2, Hoffer 0 0-0 0.
Totals: 20-8/13-20/77. 3-pointers: Wall 5, Conley 2, Jones 1.
Vanlue 55 (9-13)
Kloepfer 11 8-9 32, Snook 7 0-2 15, Rickle 2 2-5 6, Roszman 0 2-4 2, Saltzman 0 0-2 0.
Totals: 17-3/12-22/55. 3-pointers: Kloepfer 2, Snook 1.
1 2 3 4 F
Ada 16 20 19 22 77
Vlue 6 22 8 19 55
JV: Ada 61, Vanlue 24.
The Bulldogs play Hardin County foe Ridgemont(7-15) in the Div. IV sectional semifinals Tuesday, February 21 at St. Marys. The winner advances to face top seed Marion Local (18-4) Friday, Feb. 24 at 6 p.m. in St. Marys.
"We've beaten them two in a row, so we have some confidence," said Halliday. "We are playing with a good rhythm on offense."
Ada won the season opener at Ridgemont 60-47 back on November 25.
