By Cort Reynolds
BLUFFTON - Homestanding Bluffton rallied behind a big fourth quarter to defeat Delphos Jefferson 58-48 in the Northwest Conference and regular season finale for boys basketball Friday night.
The Pirates trailed 40-36 heading to the fourth period after leading by six at intermission. But Bluffton outscored DJ 22-8 in the final stanza to win by 10.
Pirates Nic Essinger and Trey Boblitt each scored seven points in the fourth period to spearhead the comeback.
Bluffton also hit five of six free throws down the stretch, while Jefferson did not make a single foul shot in the fourth quarter.
The Pirates led 9-6 after the opening perod and were ahead 24-18 at halftime. Yet DJ rallied with a 22-12 third quarter to grab a four-point lead after three periods of play.
Ian Wannemacher poured in 12 of his game-high 17 points in the third stanza to lead the Wildcat surge.
Bluffton's record improved to 10-12 overall after their fourth win in the last five games. They finished 2-6 in the NWC after the victory to tie for seventh place.
DJ fell to 7-13 and finished 4-4 (fourth place) in the nine-team NWC with the defeat.
Boblitt led a balanced Bluffton attack with 16 points. Trenton Donley netted 13 markers, and Carson Soper added 10.
Essinger tallied nine points and Kinn contributed eight as the victors almost put five players in double figures.
The Pirates hit 19 shots from inside the arc, and drained two baskets from three-point territory. Bluffton converted 14 of their 21 attempts (67 percent) from the charity stripe.
DJ connected on 18 total baskets, three less than Bluffton made. The Wildcats canned 12 two-point goals and knocked down six three-point goals.
The Wildcats converted six of 10 attempts from the charity stripe (60 percent).
Bluffton committed 12 turnovers, while DJ was guilty of 16 errors.
The Pirates are now 7-4 at home this season.
DJ 48 (7-13, 4-4 NWC)
Bailey 4 2-2 13, Teman 1 0-1 2, Wannemacher 7 3-5 17, Miller 0, Carder 0, Wiltsie 3 1-2 9, Rode 3 0-0 7.
Totals: 12-6/6-10/48. 3-pointers: Bailey 3, Wiltsie 2, Rode 1.
Bluffton 58 (10-12, 2-6 NWC)
Donley 4 4-4 13, T. Shutler 1 0-2 2, Kinn 3 2-4 8, Boblitt 5 6-7 16, Schaadt 0 0-2 0, Soper 4 2-2 10, Essinger 4 0-0 9.
Totals: 19-2/14-21/58. 3-pointers: Donley 1, Essinger 1.
1 2 3 4 F
DJ 6 12 22 8 48
Blf 9 15 12 22 58
Columbus Grove (8-0 NWC) clinched its second straight undefeated NWC title season with a 79-38 home win vs. last-place Ada Friday night.
Crestview (7-1) finished second in the NWC, followed by Lincolnview in third at 6-2. Delphos Jefferson came in fourth (4-4).
Paulding and Spencerville tied for fifth at 3-5, followed by Allen East (2-6) and Bluffton (2-6), and Ada (1-7).
The Pirates (7-4 home) entertain Defiance Tinora (4-12) of the Green Meadows Conference in Div. III sectional first round play Feb. 24.
