Story and photos by Cort Reynolds
ADA - Despite the pandemic and costly losses due to injuries, the 2020-21 Ada girls basketball team looks to continues its steady upward climb to increased competitiveness under third-year head coach Morgan Bass.
Six letter winners and four starters are back from a team that went 7-15 overall (0-8 in Northwest Conference) last season. Ada was markedly more competitive than the prior season, when they won one game.
The team had no seniors on its roster last year, but lost two key players to injury before the first practice.
By Cort Reynolds
RIDGEWAY - The host Ridgemont boys basketball team edged spunky Hardin County rival Ada 59-58 in an overtime thriller Friday night in the season-opener.
Ada trailed 20-10 after one period of play. But the Bulldogs whittled the deficit to 28-24 by halftime as junior Cayden Murphy netted seven points in the second stanza.
Ridgemont forged in front 46-39 heading to the fourth period behind 10 points from Landon Newland in the third period. Yet Ada rallied with a 15-8 closing run as Micah Cook and Jacob Poling each scored five points, and Tristan Conley added a three-pointer.
By Cort Reynolds
FT. JENNINGS - The visiting Ada boys basketball team lost 59-40 at hot-shooting Fort Jennings in a Saturday night non-league hoop contest.
The Bulldogs led 4-0 early, but then FJ reeled off the next 11 points to take control and never trailed again.
The Musketeers were on top 15-7 after one period and then pulled away to a 31-12 intermission advantage. FJ continued its fine shooting by outscoring the Bulldogs 17-4 in the third period.
Ada found its shooting touch late as they out-pointed FJ 24-11 in the final stanza. The Bulldogs tallied 16 through the first three periods.
Miranda Wills, Ada High School senior, is the Mid-Ohio Energy Cooperative Ada December student of the month.
Miranda is active in several school organizations including:
• Student council president
• Language Club
• Aspiration Team
• Film Club
• Dogs Volunteer
• Quiz bowl
•Our Lady of Lourdes Youth Group
• And athletic activities:
• Volleyball team
• Basketball team
• Tennis team
• Club volleyball
• Volunteer coach, Ada Tennis Association
• Fellowship of Christian Athletes
The Ohio Athletic Conference has announced its league schedules for basketball, swimming and diving, indoor track and field and wrestling for the 2021 seasons.
Competition across all seven sports will begin the weekend of Jan. 22-23 and will be limited to conference-only opponents.
Conference championships for indoor track and field will be held at Otterbein with the women competing on Feb. 26 with the men following on Feb. 27.
The basketball tournaments will feature all 10 teams and will run from March 1-6 on campus sites.
The swimming and diving OAC Championships meet will be March 25-27 at Akron.
