The visiting Ada High School boys basketball team fell to the three-point accuracy of Hardin County rival Kenton 78-45 in a non-league contest Saturday night, January 22.
The Wildcats drained 10 three-pointers and 12 Kenton players scored in the decisive win.
The Bulldogs trailed 39-25 at intermission, and Kenton put the game out of reach with a 20-6 third period.
"You have to defend in basketball and we didn't," said first-year Bulldog head coach Vince Halliday.
"I am at a loss," he added. "They certainly shot well, and we did not put up much resistance."
Both teams came into the rivalry contest riding long losing skids. Kenton had lost its last eight contests, while Ada had dropped seven in a row.
The Bulldogs dropped to 4-12 with the defeat. Meanwhile, Kenton improved to 4-10 by stopping its slide.
Junior Carter Conley led Ada with 12 points. Senior Cayden Murphy and junior Ethan Murphy each tallied 11 markers. Junior guard Spencer Wall added nine.
Wildcat Jarrett Jolliff led all scorers with 15 points. Colby Quay added 12 markers on four trifectas.
Ada found the range on 14 baskets, nailing eight two-pointers and six trifectas. The Bulldogs converted 11 of their 17 charity stripe attempts (65 percent).
Kenton canned 30 baskets, connecting on 20 two-pointers and 10 triples. Kenton converted eight of 13 free throw attempts (62 percent).
Ada 45 (4-12)
C. Murphy 4 3-5 11, Conley 4 3-4 12, Sutherly 0 1-2 1, Leal 0 1-2 1, Wall 3 1-3 9, Preston 0, E. Murphy 3 2-2 11.
Totals: 8-6/11-18/45. 3-pointers: E. Murphy 3, Wall 2, Conley 1.
Kenton 78 (4-10)
Lawrence 3 0-0 8, Payne 4 0-0 9, Yoder 1 0-0 3, Racey 1 0-0 2, Quay 4 0-0 12, Manns 2 0-0 5, C. Johnston 2 0-1 4, Jolliff 7 1-2 15, Robinson 3 0-1 6, Piper 2 0-0 5, K. Johnston 2 0-0 5, Stoot 0 3-5 3.
Totals: 20-10/8-13/78. 3-pointers: Quay 4, Lawrence 2, Payne 1, Yoder 1, Manns 1, Piper 1.
1 2 3 4 F
Ada 12 13 6 14 45
Kent 20 19 20 19 78
Ada (0-4 NWC) hosts second-place conference foe Crestview (10-4, 4-1 NWC) next Friday.
The Bulldogs then visit non-league Ottoville (9-7) Saturday, Jan. 29.
