By Cort Reynolds
FINDLAY - The visiting Bluffton boys basketball team outscored Liberty-Benton 25-15 in the fourth period to come from behind and win a tough non-league battle Saturday night, 62-56.
The Pirates improved to 2-0 with the comeback victory, while L-B fell to 1-2 with the loss.
Senior Luke Denecker canned three trifectas and sank 10 free throws en route to a game-high 27 points for the Pirates. Versatile senior Mason Soper tallied 17 points and added six rebounds, six steals and five assists.
Bluffton trailed 18-11 after one quarter yet rallied to tie it 28-28 at halftime. L-B then surged back in front to lead 41-37 heading to the final period. But the big fourth quarter outburst by the visitors grounded the Eagles.
The Pirates converted 24 of 35 free throw attempts to overcome 34 percent shooting from the field (17-50). L-B canned nine of 14 at the foul line and sank 21 of 49 from the field (44 percent).
Denecker splashed three of the four Pirate triples. Bluffton senior Baylor Garmatter added nine points.
Ben Spiess canned three of the five Eagle treys and scored 13 points to lead L-B. Teammate Marcellus Eckford added a dozen points.
Bluffton 62 (2-0)
Schriner 1-2ñ4, Garmatter 2-4ñ9, Soper 5-7ñ17, Piercefield 2-1ñ5, Denecker 7-10ñ27. 3-pointers: Denecker 3, Garmatter 1.
Totals: 17-50/24-35/62.
L-B 56 (1-2)
Eckford 5-2ñ12, Jenkins 1-0ñ3, Reindel 3-1ñ8, Spiess 4-2ñ13, Boyd 1-0ñ2, Dillon 0-2ñ2, Collert 3-1ñ7, Rath 4-1ñ9.
Totals: 21-49/9-14/56. 3-pointers: Spiess 3, Reindel 1, Jenkins 1.
1 2 3 4 F
Bluf 11 17 9 25 62
L-B 18 10 13 15 56
Bluffton hosts local league rival Ada (1-3) in the Northwest Conference lidlifter Friday, December 13.
