By Cort Reynolds
The very promising Ada High School boys basketball program has a lot of young talent back for a head coach who returns to the Bulldog helm after an eight-year absence.
Chris Sautter guided the Ada program from 2002-16, winning 174 games and making one state final four appearance in 2009. Sautter won two Northwest Conference titles at Ada in 2006 and 2008.
Following seven seasons at his alma mater of Columbus Grove, he took a one-year hiatus before getting back into coaching at Ada. While at Grove he took CG to the state finals, went 114-59 and won three NWC crowns from 2019-21.
“We have all our starters back, but we are still young and learning with a new coaching staff,” Sautter said of Ada. “Having three seniors and a lot of young returning talent is nice.
“We have a lot of experienced youth back,” he continued. “We can run the floor. We have a lot of athletic guys who can crash the boards. We want to use our ability to beat people off the dribble.
“On offense, we want to space the floor, teach read and react,” said Sautter. “I don’t like to run a lot of sets if we can avoid it. I want to play fast, as fast as possible. Our shooting should improve as the season goes on, and could be a strength by the end of the year.”
Ada was 5-17 overall last year and 0-8 in the Northwest Conference while playing mostly freshmen and sophomores. With a year of experience, maturation and growth under their belt – as well as something to prove - the talented Bulldogs look to be much better this season.
Junior 6-2 wing Zack Zimmerman is the top returning scorer back after averaging double figure points last season. He led the team in three-point goals made, and was named honorable mention all-league.
“Zack can score but he did a good job defensively this summer, and we need him to rebound,” said Sautter. “We also need his leadership.”
Spunky 5-9 sophomore guard Kolton Dysert returns after starting at the point as a freshman. He is being moved off the ball this season so he won’t have to expend as much energy simply getting the team into its offense.
“Kolton is one of our better shooters, he can spot up,” explained the coach. “I think he will be fresher without having to handle the point guard duties. He won’t have to work as hard, being off the ball.”
Versatile sophomore 6-2 guard Carson Conley is back to assume the point guard role. He sees the floor well and has a good hoops IQ. “Carson is a big point guard and a leader. He is shifty and can get to the rim. But he can also post up too,” Sautter noted.
Junior 5-11 guard Kayleb Hickman also returns after earning valuable experience last year. He is a good ballhandler and a solid passer. “He is very quick and an active defender,” said Sautter. “He can beat people off the dribble, and is a good passer with a good handle.”
Senior 5-9 guard Levi Green returns to lend speed and heady defensive play to the team. He has a nose for the ball and makes winning intangible plays that may not show up in the box score.
“Levi plays hard, and is a good defender who will mix it up,” said the coach. “He runs the floor well. He can shoot it from 15 feet and in.”
Senior Ethan Lawrence returns as a 6-5 forward/post. Lawrence was a solid three-point shooter last year in spot duty, and will help fill the low-post role while Slade Gossman continues to recuperate from knee surgery. “You can’t teach size,” said Sautter. “We need Ethan inside this year.”
Speedy and strong 6-0 senior forward Brody Erickson is back after one year off to provide hustle, defense and occasional offense. “Brody plays strong, is fast and can mix it up,” said Sautter.
Lanky and athletic 6-2 junior swingman Gavin Oldfield gives Ada a different dimension. “He is athletic and long, he jumps well,” said the coach. “We need him to crash the boards, cut, slash, run the floor. He needs to be big for us on defense.”
Strong junior 6-2 post Slade Gossman suffered a severe knee injury late last season and likely won’t be cleared to play this year until a month or so into the season.
Gossman is a very hard worker who can score around the hoop, rebound and he draws a lot of fouls. “Slade will give us a big, physical presence when he comes back,” Sautter offered. “He is the biggest, most physical kid we have.”
Ada possesses a deep and talented roster that might surprise and contend near the top of the Blanchard Valley Conference as the Bulldogs enter their new league after 60 seasons in the NWC.
Three teams tied for the BVC title last season with identical 7-1 records. Pandora-Gilboa, Liberty-Benton and Arlington shared the crown. Van Buren finished fourth at 5-3.
Elmwood came in fifth at 4-4, followed by Riverdale (3-5), Arcadia (2-6), McComb (1-7) and Vanlue (0-8).
“Obviously, Liberty-Benton is probably going to be good,” said Sautter. “Arlington is usually good. Pandora-Gilboa is probably pretty good.”
As for where Ada ends up in the BVC, he said “I don’t know. We will just go one game at a time.”
Veteran coach Darren Gilbert returns with Sautter as the varsity assistant. Former Bulldog Josh Lehsten is back as the JV coach, with James Massara the new freshman coach.
“Keeping Josh on staff gives us some continuity,” said Sautter. “He played for me, and having him around will be beneficial for us in getting to know the kids.
“We return the bulk of our scoring,” summed up Sautter. “We have guys that are willing to work to get better, and will compete night in and night out against the high-quality teams on our schedule.”
The coach wants to improve on the defensive end of the court, which was a liability last season.
“I want us to be good defensively,” he said of the season goals. “I want to see us sit down and guard, and make teams miserable as a springboard to our offense. We will play man and no zone.
“Of course, we want to win every home game and every BVC game,” he continued. “But the goal is to get better every day. We want to be playing our best basketball going into the tournament.”
Ada tips off its promising season with a rare Wednesday game November 27 at county rival Ridgemont. The Gophers return all five starters and are a favorite to win the NWCC crown after finishing second to USV last season.
The first three Bulldog games are on the road. The home opener Saturday, December 7 is vs. talented backyard rival Allen East.
The 10-game BVC slate kicks off Friday, Dec. 6 with the league lidlifter at Vanlue.
In Sautter’s last season at Ada in 2015-16, the Bulldogs went 13-11 and lost to Minster in the 2016 sectional finals. His final campaign was the last time the purple and gold have finished over .500.
Look for Ada to finish above .500 again this season, and more than double its win total of last year.
