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.
Ada suffered a major loss when versatile 5-7 senior Miranda Wills, a two-year starter, was seriously hurt in a late October car accident. Sustaining multiple back and knee injuries, she is able to walk but is out for the season.
Her hustle and energy were infectious all over the court, and will be impossible to replace.
Spunky junior guard Timber Blankenship suffered a season-ending knee injury last Christmas break in the Border Battle tournament. After a long rehab, she decided to opt out of this season.
Bass and the Bulldogs have also incorporated a new attack based on the Wisconsin swing offense that Bo Ryan ran for the Badgers when they reached the Final Four in 2014 and 2015.
"We have a new offense but we have smart kids who will adjust," said Bass. "It has just been tough to gel without much continuity. We missed two weeks of practice at the start, and have a lot of new faces."
Exciting sophomore 5-4 playmaker Courtney Sumner is the top returning scorer and assist leader. A good, quick athlete with a high competitive motor, she has a talent for improvisation. She is a good passer and slick ballhandler who drives fearlessly and can shoot.
"She is smarter, bigger and more experienced," said Bass of her improvement from year one to her second season. "We have improved chemistry which comes from kids just knowing where their teammates are most effective at.
"Courtney has more weapons to drive and pass out to as well," said Bass, a former standout point guard herself at Ada and ONU.
Sumner will have to create offense for herself and others. She is a scrappy hustler as well.
Junior 5-8 guard Kirsten Poling returns for her third season as a starter.
She is a versatile, intense player who can handle the ball well, score and pass. With her size and wingspan she can also play the passing lanes well, or defend the post. She uses her off left hand well to break pressure via the dribble, and can score off the bounce.
Senior 5-11 post Megan Light also returns as a starter inside. Her continued development will be a key for the team to succeed. When she was assertive, Light was a capable force in the lane and on pick and roll plays.
"She has shown increased leadership and just needs to be more aggressive," said Bass.
Senior wing Alexis Waugh started most of the last two seasons and returns in top shape this year. A solid 5-5, the hard-nosed southpaw drives to her left especially well. She can hit the short to mid-range shot, and battles hard under the backboards as well.
Senior 5-5 guard Kylie Acheson gained some valuable experience last season and will provide a perimeter shooting threat off the bench as a three-point specialist.
The fifth starter will likely be promising 5-2 freshman guard Olivia Burkhart. "She is a good ballhandler who sees the floor well," Bass noted. "She can also shoot it."
Junior 5-5 wing Selena Jordan is the other returning letter winner. She can score and gives the team depth and versatility off the bench.
Others expected to contribute on the varsity include 5-7 freshman guard Mariah King, 6-0 freshman post Daicy Robinson and 5-5 senior guard Leona Dalton.
Bass noted that Robinson is the biggest girl in the program, and that she and King will play both JV and varsity.
This season's NWC race
As for the NWC race, Bass says "Columbus Grove for sure is up there as the favorite. Delphos Jefferson is also on the rise. Hopefully, we can at least finish ahead of (rival) Allen East.
"Crestview and Bluffton lost some key players but should still be good."
Columbus Grove won the league title by two games last season at 8-0, while Spencerville finished second at 6-2. Paulding, Bluffton and Crestview each tied for third at 5-3.
Delphos Jeff was sixth at 4-4, followed by Lincolnview (2-6), Allen East (1-7) and Ada (0-8). The Bulldogs lost a controversial game at AE last winter when Sumner's potential winning shot at the buzzer was disallowed.
"It is an unpredictable year," Bass noted. "From game to game, you never know what players might be out (due to the pandemic). Losing Miranda was a killer. We will miss her leadership, rebounding and post play.
"She was our hardest worker, and just her presence made a huge difference. She is helping out a lot already on the bench. And we have already had some people step up to try and fill that leadership void," she added.
Ada tips off its campaign at home vs. county rival Hardin Northern Tuesday, December 1. The scheduled opener November 24 at Cory-Rawson was pushed back to January 16.
Lidlifter home vs Grove Dec. 3
The league lidlifter is December 3 at home against powerhouse Columbus Grove.
The Lady Bulldogs will also defend their title in the fourth annual Border Battle tournament Dec. 28/30 at Harrod. Ada, Waynesfield, USV and tourney host Allen East are the four area rivals competing for the crown.
AE won the first two girls Border tourney titles, beating Ada in the 2017 finals. But the Lady Bulldogs turned the tables and rallied to beat the Mustangs in the 2019 championship game at USV, 48-39.
The Lady Bulldogs could be the favorite to repeat as Border Battle champs. Without the fiery Wills, who scored 14 points in the finals, it will be a tougher task. But Sumner tallied 16 in that title win and returns with some other promising players.
"Before Miranda got hurt, we were hoping to be at least .500 this season," Bass summed up. "With that loss and Covid, now we are just in a day-by-day mode.
"I think our work ethic is even better than it was before," she continued. "Our freshman group brings a lot of energy. The big thing is playing with confidence. We try to preach staying hungry and positive."
Former Bulldog guard Kyle Poling joins the staff as the new junior varsity coach. K.T. Martin is also a newcomer from the ONU program and will serve as a varsity assistant.
The team:
The Ada varsity girls basketball team, left to right, front row: manager Kenley Poling, Courtney Sumner, Olivia Burkhart, Alexis Waugh, manager Jaylin St. Laurent.
Middle: Selena Jordan, Leona Dalton, Kirsten Poling, Mariah King.
Back: head coach Morgan Bass, Miranda Wills, Megan Light, assistant K.T. Martin, JV coach Kyle Poling.
Not pictured: Kylie Acheson.
