Between games, the 1975-76 Ada boys district champion team that went 21-2 (10-0 NWC) was recognized, represented by then-coach Gene Fries. The Northwest Conference championship team will be inducted to the Hardin County Sports Hall of Fame this summer.
Ada assistant coach and former Kenton standout Darren Gilbert was also recognized as an inductee to the county sports Hall of Fame. A long-time coach and teacher in the area, he was a third team all-state selection as a senior in class AA.
By Cort Reynolds
ADA – The Ada High School boys basketball team lost 63-41 to talented visiting Blanchard Valley Conference foe Arlington at Ohio Northern Friday night.
The Red Devils blew the game open with a 22-7 third quarter. Senior guard Jase Vermillion bombed in six triples and scored 29 points to pace the victors.
The game was moved from Ada to ONU’s King-Horn gymnasium due to a continuing roof problem with the Bulldog varsity gym.
The Bulldogs dropped to 11-7 overall and 5-3 in the BVC with the defeat. Arlington improved to 13-3 overall and 6-1 in BVC play after the victory.
“It was tough to do anything in the paint against Willow,” said Sautter. “Vermillion shot the crap out of the ball. We didn’t play very well.
“I have to a better job of getting the guys ready to play,” he continued. “We had an opportunity to play on a college floor. It was an awesome atmosphere. I hope we can come back and play a game here every year.”
Calvin Willow, 6-10 Red Devil center, started the scoring on a pick and roll layup. Ada went in front on junior Zack Zimmerman’s triple from the top of the key 43 seconds into the fray.
A lane flip shot by junior Kayleb Hickman made it 5-2. Devil guard Brady Griggs sank a driving banker, and Vermillion bombed in a 28-foot right wing trey.
Ada regained the lead when Hickman buried a triple from the top of the key. Griggs drove for a layup, and Willow made a bunny for an 11-8 edge. Vermillion capped the period by making a steal, then speeding coast-to-coast for a layup and a five-point lead as the opening stanza closed.
Vermillion canned two foul shots to open the second period. Hickman drilled a pull-up 13-footer in transition to inch within 13-11 at the 6:50 mark.
Vermillion hit a layup and a long trifecta to stretch the lead to 20-11. Ada sophomore Carson Conley canned a 12-foot lane floater, but Vermillion answered with a 29-footer from the left wing this time.
Conley splashed a three from the left wing to make it 23-16 at the 3:25 mark. But then Arlington ended the half on an 8-0 run to take all the momentum into intermission.
Vermillion converted a two-on-one fast break layin, followed by a Willow post-up layup as he was fouled. The junior big man completed the conventional three-point play to go ahead 28-16 at the 2:18 juncture.
Griggs split two foul shots. He then sliced through the defense for a left-handed layup with four seconds left in the half to give the Red Devils a 31-16 bulge at the half.
Arlington’s Drew Metzger drained a right wing trey to open the second half scoring, followed by a Zimmerman basket. Willow scored inside to make it 36-18. Conley splashed his second trifecta from out top.
Griggs penetrated the lane and made a tough southpaw scoop off glass. Vermillion hit one free toss, and Griggs canned a pair of charity stripers to extend the lead to 41-21.
Zimmerman swished a 12-foot lane shot. Willow spun and made a layup, then tallied inside again. The junior center blocked his third shot, followed by a Vermillion basket.
Devil southpaw Ayden Cavinee drained a right corner triple at the 75-second mark to provide a 50-23 margin. Another Vermillion three from the right corner capped the 22-7 third period with the visitors ahead by 30.
Zimmerman drilled a right wing trey to open the fourth quarter, which Ada won 17-10. Hickman drove and rolled in a 10-footer. Vermillion nailed another trey. ZZ scored a layup off a nice drive and dish from Levi Green, then scored again.
Vermillion swished a long trifecta to make it 59-32 midway through the final period. Green sank a field goal, followed by a Cavinee basket.
Slade Gossman completed a traditional three-point play inside to cut it to 61-37. Senior Ethan Lawrence swished a right wing triple with 33 ticks remaining.
The Bulldogs were led by Zimmerman with 15 points. Hickman scored nine, and Conley added eight.
Willow contributed 13 points and three blocked shots. Griggs added 11 markers.
“We have to guard better; we aren’t going to outscore a lot of people,” said Sautter. “They shot well.”
The Bulldogs committed 17 turnovers, many of which were costly in the first half.
Ada canned 10 two-point field goals and the Bulldogs drained six triples. Ada converted two of their mere three free throw attempts (67 percent).
The Red Devils connected on 16 two-pointers and drained eight trifectas. Arlington sank seven of 11 foul shots (64 percent).
Ada, 9-2 on the road, is 2-5 at home after the result Friday.
Liberty-Benton sits alone atop the Blanchard Valley Conference at 7-0, with Arlington second at 6-1. Van Buren is third at 6-2, while Ada is tied for fourth with Pandora-Gilboa at 5-3.
Ada won a close JV game, 37-36. Connor McKean buried a long right wing trey with 40 seconds left to win it. The Bulldog reserves improved to 13-5 overall and 5-3 in the BVC with the victory.
Andrew Allen led Ada with 13 points. Wes Mowery added eight markers.
An Arlington student nailed the halfcourt halftime shot to win $550.
Ada 40 (11-7, 5-3 BVC)
Oldfield 0 0-0 0, Dysert 0 0-0 0, Zimmerman 6 1-2 15, Green 1 0-0 2, Conley 3 0-0 8, Hickman 4 0-0 9, Gossman 1 1-1 3, Lawrence 1 0-0 3, Erickson 0-0-0.
Totals: 10-6/2-3/40. 3-pointers: Zimmerman 2, Conley 2, Hickman 1, Lawrence 1.
Arlington (13-3, 6-1 BVC)
Vermillion 10 3-4 29, Metzger 1 0-0 3, Griggs 4 3-4 11, Cavinee 2 0-0 5, Willow 6 1-3 13, Wenner 1 0-0 2.
Totals: 16-8/7-11/63. 3-pointers: Vermillion 6, Cavinee 1, Metzger 1.
|
ADA ARLINGTON |
1 8 13 |
2 8 18 |
3 7 22 |
4 17 10 |
FINAL 40 63 |
JV: Ada 37, Arlington 36.
Saturday’s scheduled game at home vs. North Baltimore (6-12) was moved to Saturday, February 8 due to the roof issues.
Ada hosts league foe Leipsic (8-8, 3-3 BVC) Tuesday, Feb. 4.
