By Sam Brauen www.blufftonpirates.com
It’s been awhile since Pirate fans stormed the court but they rightfully did so after Bluffton toppled reigning Northwest Conference champion Crestview by a 43-41 score. 

 Luke Denecker dropped in 19 points, including four three pointers to lead the Pirate offense.  Denecker also matched up on defense for about half the game with Crestview’s leading scorer, Javin Etzler. 

Etzler stands 6’8” and is signed with Miami (OH) to play at the Division 1 level.  Baylor Garmatter did a marvelous job on Etzler as well, especially down the stretch.  The big man was held to 11 points on the night and scored just two over the first three quarters. 

Keys to the Game
Bluffton’s defense won this game for them.  Crestview came into the game averaging 67 points a contest but got just 41 tonight.  A stifling defensive effort by Bluffton held Crestview to only 17 in the first half. The Pirates mainly played gritty man to man defense but at times slid into a 1-3-1 zone. 

As much as the defense won it, free throws nearly lost it. The Pirates started the fourth quarter shooting 1/6 from the line including missing the front end of back to back bonus trips.  BHS recovered to make 5/7 over the final two minutes to keep the lead.  

Bluffton won the third quarter 15-8, connecting on three 3s in the stanza.  Denecker, Mason Soper and Levi Hohenbrink each hit from long range.  Each made shot sent the Pirate crowd into a louder frenzy.

Hohenbrink’s corner three nearly blew the roof off the place as he had struggled from the field to that point, going 0/5.  That shot gave Bluffton a 23-17 lead early in the second half. 

Denecker swished a long three pointer, from the volleyball red line, and Jared Piercefield followed that up with a steal and layup for Bluffton’s largest lead of the night at 37-26 with 7:05 left in the game.  The Pirates earned all six remaining points from the free throw line to ice the win.

The Knights turned exclusively to the elder Etzler in the final quarter.  While he scored 8 points in the fourth, he shot just 3/9 from the field, including 2/8 from three point range.  Garmatter made it tough on Etzler to even catch the ball.  Etzler’s younger brother, Kalen, stands 6’7” and an Ohio State assistant coach was in the gym to scout him tonight.  The sophomore managed just 7 points. 

Crestview’s starters towered over the Pirates but the Knights won the rebounding battle by just a 25-24 count.  Jared Piercefield (7), Mason Soper (6) and Luke Denecker (6) all worked in the paint to board effectively. 

Bluffton won the freshman game tonight 38-33 in overtime with Trey Boblitt scoring the final five points for BHS.  The Pirate Junior Varsity team was also victorious by a 40-34 margin. 

Individual Pirate Statistics
Luke Denecker 19 points, 4 threes on 4/7 shooting on 3s, 6 rebounds, 1 assist
Jared Piercefield 11 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
Mason Soper 6 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist
Levi Hohenbrink 3 points, 
Mickey Ault 2 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal
Baylor Garmatter 2 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals

Team Statistics
Bluffton
2 FG 4/10 
3 FG 8/21
Total FG 12 / 21
Free Throws 11/19
Rebounds 24
Turnovers 14

Crestview
2 FG 10/26
3 FG 5/21
Total FG 15/47 
Free Throws 6/8
Rebounds 25
Turnovers 9

Coach’s Comment: “To see our guys fight…and keep fighting…and to come through with the game on the line against a quality opponent; as a coach that’s all you want.  To see guys develop and make plays when they need to and that’s what we did tonight.”  Coach Todd Boblitt

What’s Next : The Pirates will host Vanlue Tuesday evening with a 6 p.m. tipoff for the Junior Varsity.  

Photos by Marvin Foster : https://www.usedcoffeebeans.com/Sports/Bluffton-Basketball-Boys/Boys-Bas...