By Cort Reynolds
BLUFFTON - Homestanding Bluffton shot its way to a big early lead and went on to whip local rival Pandora-Gilboa 56-32 in a lopsided non-conference girls basketball matchup Saturday afternoon.
Laykin Garmatter fired in 10 of her game-high 17 points in the first period to lead the Lady Pirates to a 20-6 advantage.
Bluffton extended its margin to 32-13 at halftime, and they outscored the Lady Rockets 14-9 in the third stanza to build a 46-22 cushion.
The teams played to a 10-10 final quarter after the outcome was decided.
Bluffton's record improved to 10-6 overall with their fourth consecutive victory.
BVC cellar dweller P-G dropped to 1-11 after the defeat.
Sami Scoles contributed nine of her 11 points in the first half. Kylie Monday also tallied seven of her 10 points before intermission, while Kylie Stackhouse added nine markers.
P-G post Lacie Fenstermaker was the lone Rocket girl in double figures with 13 points.
The Pirate girls canned 23 baskets. They sank 17 two-pointers and drained six triples. Bluffton converted four of nine free throw attempts (44 percent).
The Rocket girls connected on 15 field goals. They sank 14 two-pointers and one three-pointer. P-G canned a mere one of four foul shots (25 percent).
Bluffton is now 7-2 at home this season.
P-G 32 (1-11)
McCoy 1 0-0 2, Augsburger 2 0-0 5, Kinsinger 3 0-0 6, Miller 2 0-0 4, Dysert 1 0-0 2, Duling 0, Fenstermaker 6 1-4 13.
Totals: 14-1/1-4/32. 3-pointer: Augsburger 1.
Bluffton 56 (10-6)
Garmatter 7 1-3 17, Busch 1 0-0 2, Eachus 1 0-0 3, Stackhouse 4 0-0 9, Bricker 0, Scoles 4 2-4 11, Hasting 1 0-0 2, Monday 4 1-2 10, Mehaffie 1 0-0 2.
Totals: 17-6/4-9/56. 3-pointers: Garmatter 2, Scoles 1, Eachus 1, Stackhouse 1, Monday 1.
1 2 3 4 F
P-G 6 7 9 10 32
Blf 20 12 14 10 56
Bluffton entertains Spencerville (7-5, 2-2 NWC) in a league game January 21. The Bearcat girls host LCC (5-9) Monday.
Crestview and Paulding (4-1 NWC each) are tied for first in the conference after the Lady Knights beat Delphos Jefferson 54-44, knocking DJ (3-1) out of the top spot.
Bluffton (3-4 road) visits BVC foe Riverdale (4-7) Saturday afternoon, Jan. 23.
