Jefferson routs Ada; Wildcats now atop NWC (w/photo gallery)

By CORT REYNOLDS

Times correspondent

ADA — Northwest Conference unbeaten Delphos Jefferson authored a 17-0 first half run and went on to defeat the host Ada girls basketball team 52-20 in a Northwest Conference contest Thursday evening.

The Lady Bulldogs (5-10, 0-5 NWC) pulled within 7-2 on an Autumn Andreasen putback with 3:40 left in the first quarter. But Jefferson reeled off the next 17 points to seize command, and was never headed.

“We played extremely hard and executed what we wanted to do for the most part defensively,” Ada coach Zach Ricker said. “There was a huge (improved) difference in energy compared to the Allen East game a week ago.”

Coupled with the 45-40 Allen East win at Crestview Thursday, the Wildcats (13-1, 4-0 NWC) took over first place in the league as the only remaining undefeated team.

Delphos Jefferson senior guard Lyv Lindeman scored a game-high 19 points to pace the victors.

Ada committed 17 costly first half turnovers against the Wildcat pressure, and was never able to get into an offensive rhythm.

“We made some bad choices trying to squeeze passes into tight spaces against an athletic defense,” Ricker said. 

Lindeman sank three two-point goals, and southpaw Brooke Mueller splashed a trey to lead Jefferson to a 15-2 lead after the first period.

Lauren French completed a three-point play inside, and the 6-2 senior added a post-up basket for a 22-2 lead midway through the second stanza. 

Lindeman then scooped up a loose ball and drove in for a layup to cap the flurry with the Wildcats ahead by 22.

Junior guard Lexi Poling ended the nearly seven-minute Ada scoring drought by banking in a 10-footer while being knocked to the floor. She injured her shoulder on the play and was replaced by senior Mariah King, who hit the foul shot to convert the rare three-point play.

Lindeman sank a stickback, followed by a spinning bank shot by Ada sophomore post Anna Conley. Mueller swished a right corner trey, and Conley responded by nailing a 12-footer at the two-minute mark.

Lindeman drained a right corner triple a minute later for a 32-9 bulge. Three foul shots stretched the DJ lead to 35-9 at halftime.

Ada senior guard Olivia Burkhart bounced in a short jumper, followed by a Conley layin that inched Ada within 37-13 early in the third quarter.

Mueller drilled another corner trifecta, and Madison Burris nailed a left wing triple for a 43-13 Jefferson lead. Poling sank a layup, but Lindeman connected on a pull-up shot. 

A Conley field goal closed the Ada scoring, followed by two foul shots from DJ freshman Claire Brinkman with 0.1 remaining. 

Conley led Ada with eight points and two blocked shots. Burkhart tallied five markers. Defensive ace King added a blocked shot.

Mueller tallied 11 points for Jefferson, while French added nine markers. Burris scored six on two treys.

The Ada girls connected on eight two-point goals and one three-pointer. They converted their lone free throw (100%).

Delphos Jefferson canned 11 two-point field goals and splashed six shots from beyond the arc. The Wildcats converted 12 of 15 charity stripe tries (80%).  

Delphos Jefferson won the two-quarter reserve game, 27-5. Jaylin St. Laurent led Ada with five markers.

Next up, Ada hosts Hardin County foe Ridgemont Monday at 6 p.m.

DELPHOS JEFFERSON (13-1, 4-0 NWC): Lindeman 7 4-6 19, Mueller 4 0-0 11, French 3 3-4 9, Burris 2 0-0 6, Kimmet 1 2-2 4, Brinkman 0 3-4 3. Totals 17 12-15 52.  

ADA (5-10, 0-5 NWC): Conley 4 0-0 8, Burkhart 2 0-0 5, Lexi Poling 2 0-0 4, Autumn Andreasen 1 0-0 2, King 0 1-1 1. Totals 9 1-1 20.

3-point goals: Mueller 3, Burris 2, Lindeman, Burkhart.

Score by quarters

Delphos Jefferson      15                                20                                13                                4                                  — 52

Ada                             2                                  7                                  8                                  3                                  — 20