By Cort Reynolds
The Bluffton High School boys basketball team defeated visiting non-league foe Kenton 61-41 Saturday, February 11, to complete a 2-0 weekend, scoring 61 points in both wins.
Marek Donaldson drained five three-point goals to lead the Pirates to victory with 17 points.
Bluffton led 12-10 after the opening period, but blew the game open with a 20-8 second stanza. Donaldson canned two triples in each of the first two quarters.
The Wildcats pulled within 39-31 behind a 13-7 third quarter.
But a big 22-point Pirate fourth period for the second straight night put the game well out of reach.
Bluffton canned 10 of 11 foul shots in the final stanza.
Pirate post John-Paul Yoder tallied 13 points for the second straight game. Wade Ginther and Carson Soper each tallied seven points, and Landen Worcester added six points.
Bluffton improved to 12-8 overall with the win. Kenton dropped to 7-13 after the road loss.
Bluffton connected on 19 field goals. The Pirates sank 12 baskets inside the arc, and splashed seven three-point goals.
Bluffton converted 16 of 21 attempts from the foul line (76 percent).
Kenton canned 14 shots from the field. The Wildcats hit eight two-point goals and nailed six triples.
Kenton converted seven of 12 shots from the charity stripe (58 percent).
The Pirates committed seven turnovers, and Kenton was guilty of 13 miscues.
Kenton 41 (7-13)
Lawrence 5 0-0 13, Bushong 1 0-0 2, Yoder 2 2-2 6, Quay 2 1-4 6, Manns 1 0-0 2, Miller 2 2-2 8, Rarey 0 1-2 1, Piper 1 1-2 3.
Totals: 8-6/7-12/41. 3-pointers: Lawrence 3, Miller 2, Quay 1.
Bluffton 61 (12-8)
Donaldson 6 0-0 17, L. Ginther 0 0-0 0, Soper 2 3-5 7, W. Ginther 1 5-6 7, Worcester 2 2-2 6, Boblitt 2 2-2 8, Wright 0 0-0 0, Yoder 6 1-2 13, Hilty 0 3-4 3.
Totals: 12-7/16-21/61. 3-pointers: Donaldson 5, Boblitt 2.
1 2 3 4 F
Kent 10 8 13 10 41
Bluf 12 20 7 22 61
Bluffton was seeded sixth at the Div. III sectionals. On Wednesday, February 22 at 6 p.m. in the Elida Fieldhouse, they will play fifth-seeded rival Allen East in the first round.
The Pirates beat AE 61-54 Feb. 10.
The Pirate/Mustang survivor advances to play the winner between seventh seed LCC and eighth seed Coldwater Friday, Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m.
Sectional winners move on to the Lima Senior district March 1.
Ottawa-Glandorf (15-3) is the top seed, with Spencerville second (16-2). Carey (18-3) is third and Liberty-Benton (17-2) fourth in the 13-team sectional.
