By Cort Reynolds
BLUFFTON - Host Bluffton raced to a huge early lead and whipped non-league local rival Pandora-Gilboa 58-24 in boys basketball play Saturday night.
The Pirates improved to 14-4 overall with the win, while P-G fell to 7-8 with the defeat.
Bluffton led 22-3 after a dominating first period. They held P-G to just six points in the first half as they built an insurmountable 33-6 cushion.
The Pirates outscored the Rockets 25-18 after intermission. The 24 points was the lowest amount allowed in a game by Bluffton this season, eclipsing the 25 they permitted vs. Fort Jennings January 11.
Senior Mason Soper led the Pirates with 21 points as nine Bluffton cagers scored. Seniors Jared Piercefield and Luke Denecker each tallied eight markers.
Walker Macke led the cold-shooting Rockets with nine points.
P-G committed 19 turnovers while the Pirates made 16 miscues.
Bluffton 58 (14-4)
Deardorff 0, Schriner 0, Garmatter 2 1-2 5, Shutler 0, Soper 7 4-5 21, Piercefield 3 1-4 8, Denecker 4 0-0 8, Essinger 1 0-0 2, Schaadt 1 0-0 3, Ault 0 1-2 1, Hohenbrink 1 4-6 6, Kinn 0 4-4 4.
Totals: 19/15-23/58. 3-pointers: Soper 3, Piercefield 1, Schaadt 1.
P-G 24 (7-8)
Macke 4 0-1 9, Johnson 1 0-0 3, Miller 0 3-4 3, Huffman 0 1-2 1, Meyer 1 0-0 2, Biery 3 0-0 6.
Totals: 9/4-7/24. 3-pointers: Macke 1, Johnson 1.
1 2 3 4 F
Bluf 22 11 10 15 58
P-G 3 3 11 7 24
Columbus Grove
COLUMBUS GROVE - League-leading Columbus Grove stymied visiting Bluffton 54-30 in a Northwest Conference boys basketball battle Friday evening.
Unbeaten CG improved to 14-0 and stayed atop the NWC at 5-0 with the win. The Pirates fell to 4-2 in the NWC with the defeat.
The 30 points was the lowest Bluffton single-game output this season. The loss dropped the Pirates to fourth in the NWC race, with Lincolnview and Delphos Jefferson tied for second at 4-1.
Bluffton hosts slumping but dangerous backyard league rival Allen East (5-13, 0-6 NWC) Friday, February 7, in the final home game of the season. The Mustangs have lost six of their last seven games.
The Pirates then visit tough non-league foe Riverdale (13-5) Saturday, Feb. 8.
Bluffton is 10-1 at home and 4-3 on the road.
