McAdams scores a career-high 36 in Elida's romp

ELIDA — Reggie McAdams soaked in all the pregame hoopla.

Then he went out and made sure his final game in the Elida Fieldhouse would be one to remember.

The senior McAdams scored a career-high 36 points to lead Elida to a convincing 80-53 boys basketball victory over Celina Friday at Elida.

“It was a great final memory and I wouldn’t have it any other way,” McAdams said.

McAdams hit 13 of 20 from the field and was 4 of 8 on 3-pointers. He also had 10 rebounds, four blocks and three assists. McAdams was 6 of 7 at the foul line, as he eclipsed his previous career high of 35 points.

“We didn’t really mention it all week, but once it got to today and the shootaround, knowing that it was your last time playing in here in front of your home crowd with our tremendous shooting section,” McAdams said.

McAdams came out firing, tossing in 15 points in the first quarter, with three 3-pointers. He hit 6 of 8 in the opening quarter.

“He didn’t leave anything in the tank,” Elida coach Denny Thompson said. “He played throughout that whole game with the energy of a man on a mission. ... He was feeling it and it was great to see. He had the whole package tonight.”

McAdams said, “As a shooter, you can tell when you’re on. The first three is always the biggest. I made that first one.”

Celina came out in a 1-3-1 zone, but by halftime the Bulldogs had tried a man-to-man, a box-and-one and a diamond-and-one on McAdams.

Nothing worked.

“He came shooting the ball very well,” Celina coach Chris Bihn said. “Our goal was to make him take the outside shot because they seem to like to get jumpers in the lane and attack the paint a lot. When we came out and had to defend him out there, they were able to get it inside, then they had the whole game.”

Elida is 16-3, 7-1 in the Western Buckeye League. The Bulldogs have their title showdown game next week at Defiance (8-0 WBL). Celina is 8-10, 3-5 in the WBL.

Elida went on a 17-8 run at the close of the first quarter to take a 24-15 lead. Over that run, McAdams had 12 points on a wide variety of shots (two 3-pointers, a slam dunk, a putback and a 15-footer).

By halftime, Elida led 47-29, with McAdams going to the break with 22 points.

Once McAdams got rolling, Elida went inside to 6-4 Cory Royster, who had 14 points and eight rebounds. Dakota Mathias had 12 points, with two 3-pointers, and eight assists. Aric Thompson scored 11 with three 3-pointers.

“When teams do what they did tonight, and he’s (Royster) going to be one-on-one in the post, his teammates are going to get him the ball and he’s done a nice job,” Thompson said.

Scott Moeder paced Celina with 14 points, while Matt Buschur had 11 points.

Elida won the boards, 32-20. Elida hit 59 percent from the field and 10 of 21 on 3-pointers. Celina hit 34 percent from the field and 2 of 12 on 3-pointers.

Elida also had nine blocks with Thompson getting three, Royster two and McAdams four.

Elida’s regulars stayed in the game until the final minute and fed McAdams over the final minutes to help his get his personal high. McAdams’ two free throws with 1:10 left gave him his career high of 36 before he came out.

“I’m blessed to have teammates I do,” McAdams said.