By Cort Reynolds
BLUFFTON - Junior guard Laykin Garmatter scored 12 fourth-period points to lead host Bluffton to a 55-49 win over Crestview in Northwest Conference girls basketball action Thursday night.

Bluffton led 13-6 early and held a 35-30 advantage heading to the fourth quarter. The Pirate girls outscored the Lady Knights 20-19 in the final stanza to hold off the visitors, despite eight points from Lexi Gregory in the last period.

The Lady Pirates improved to 7-1 overall and 3-0 in NWC play with their seventh consecutive victory. Meanwhile, Crestview fell to 3-5 and 1-2 in the NWC with the defeat.

Garmatter led the Pirate girls with 21 points as she connected on five three-point goals. Sophomore Kylie Monday contributed 14 markers on the strength of four treys.

Senior guard Lexi Gregory led Crestview with a game-high 22 points on 11 two-point field goals. Knight junior guard Kylie Etzler added a dozen points.

The Bluffton girls sank 18 baskets, including 10 from three-point range. The Pirate girls canned nine of 21 from the charity stripe (43 percent).

The Knight girls sank 21 field goals and three three-point baskets. Crestview converted four of eight at the foul line (50 percent). 

Bluffton led 21-17 at the half and edged in front by five with a 14-13 third stanza. Pirate Kayla White added seven points and one trey. 

Crestview 49 (3-    5, 1-    2 NWC)
B. Gregory 1 1-2 3, Etzler 4 1-1 12, L. Gregory 11 0-1 22, McCoy 2 2-4 6, Cunningham 3 0-0 6.
Totals: 21/4-8/49. 3-pointers: Etzler 3.

Bluffton 55 (7-1, 3-0 NWC)
B. Garmatter 1 0-0 2, L. Garmatter 6 4-7 21, White 2 2-4 7, Stackhouse 3 0-1 6, Monday 4 2-2 14, Schaadt 2 1-7 5.
Totals: 18/9-21/55. 3-pointers: L. Garmatter 5, Monday 4, White 1.
 
    1    2    3    4    F
Cvw    6    11    13    19    49    
Bluf    13    8    14    20    55    

Bluffton (4-1 home) next hosts Arcadia in a non-league contest Saturday, December 28 at noon. The Lady Pirates have not lost since a 37-30 defeat to Cory-Rawson in the season-opener November 22.