Ada finished a come from behind win with an 8-0 flurry over the final four minutes to grasp a 43-39 win in Hardin County Friday night. Levi Gleason scored on a three point play with 3:58 left, representing the last of the Pirates’ scoring for the night. The free throw also ended a stellar night for the junior. Gleason scored 23 points on 9/10 shooting including a powerful two hand slam, collected 7 rebounds and blocked 4 shots. But Ada, and Konnor Baker in particular, seemed to have an answer for every Bluffton basket.
BHS was in early command, storming out to an 8-0 lead just minutes into the contest. Tyler Breidenbach and RJ Stratton combined to do a formidable job on Baker in the first half. Baker hit a tough jumper to end the first quarter on a positive note for the Bulldogs who trailed 13-6. The Pirates scored all six second quarter points on two 3s, the first a Gleason step back midway through the period. The second was at the horn, from the hands of Matt Gillett. BHS led 19-16 at the break.
The Bulldogs, 2009 state semifinalists, eventually took the lead midway through the third and for Bluffton, it started to look as if the game might get out of reach as Ada held a 31-27 lead heading into the fourth. But a change of defense made all the difference. BHS began trapping in the halfcourt and taking the ball out of Baker’s hands, who seemed to be Ada’s only weapon. And sure enough, Bluffton regained the lead on a Gleason bucket in the paint with five minutes to go. RJ Stratton hit Levi on a backdoor pass for a bucket the next time down the floor and Gleason polished the three point play the next possession. Levi scored 11 of the team’s 12 fourth quarter points. But, turnovers doomed the Pirates down the stretch as Ada extended their defense to full court. A Baker steal and layup gave Ada a 41-39 lead with 1:26 left and the sophomore knocked down two free throws with 12 ticks to go to put the game out of reach.
Matt Gillett was 3/6 from downtown on his way to 10 points. Kyle Siefker, Tyler Breidenbach and RJ Stratton each scored 2 for Bluffton, now 3-10 on the season and 1-3 in the NWC. Siefker pulled down 7 rebounds, Breidenbach had 2 steals and Stratton dished out 4 assists as well. The boys play at Pandora Tuesday night.
Click here for game shots from T-roy B-reidenbach
Tags: Ada, Levi Gleason, Matt Gillett, Tyler Breidenbach, RJ Stratton, Kyle Siefker
Teams: Basketball (B)