By Cort Reynolds
BLUFFTON - Host Bluffton lost a tough 47-41 verdict to Western Buckeye League perennial power Ottawa-Glandorf before a sellout crowd in a non-league battle of undefeated teams Saturday night.

Bluffton led 6-5 after a low-scoring first period. O-G edged in front 17-15 at intermission. The Titans built a 30-23 lead with a 13-8 third period.

BHS pulled within 4 points at 45 to 41 with 17 seconds to go, but was unable to close the gap.

The Pirates outscored O-G 18-17 in the fourth quarter, but could not catch up. The Titans made five of nine foul shots in the final stanza, while Bluffton canned five of eight charity stripers.

Bluffton fell to 7-1 with their first loss, while the Titans improved to 10-0 with the victory. On Friday, O-G scored 94 points in a contest against another DIII perennial power Columbus Africentric.

O-G's win was its closest of the season. The team has defeated Archbold 71-45, Bowling Green 76-24, LCC 76-41, Elida 75-45, and Bishop Hartley 80-44, for example.

Prior to beating the Pirates, O-G's closest win was again St. Marys at 52-42.

The Pirates connected on 14 baskets, including five from three-point range. Bluffton converted eight of 14 from the charity stripe (57 percent). 

The Titans sank  17 field goals, including three from three-point land and 14 inside the arc. O-G converted 10 of 20 at the charity stripe (50 percent).

Pirate senior Luke Denecker and Titan senior Ben Westrick tied for game-high scoring honors with 19 points apiece. Denecker netted nine of his points in the fourth period.

Owen Nichols, a 6-7 junior, scored 13 points for O-G. Nichols and Westrick combined to score all 13 Titan points in the decisive third quarter. Senior guard Jarrod Beach added eight points for the Titans.

O-G outscored Bluffton 25-17 over the middle two periods. The Pirates won the combined first and fourth quarters, 24-22.

Mason Soper added nine markers for the Pirates.

O-G 47 (10-0)
Beach 2 2-4 8, Schomaeker 1 0-0 3, Blevens 1 0-0 2, Alt 0 2-2 2, Nichols 5 3-8 13, Westrick 8 3-6 19.
Totals: 17/10-20/47. 3-pointers: Beach 2, Schomaeker 1. 

Bluffton 41 (7-1)
Schriner 0, Garmatter 1 0-3 2, Shutler 1 0-0 2, Soper 4 0-0 9, Piercefield 1 2-2 5, Denecker 5 6-9 19, Essinger 2 0-0 4, Hohenbrink 0. 
Totals: 14/8-14/41. 3-pointers: Denecker 3, Piercefield 1, Soper 1. 
 
    1    2    3    4    F
O-G    5    12    13    17    47    
Blf    6    9    8    18    41     

Bluffton hosts Wapakoneta (3-5) Tuesday, January 7 in a non-league contest. The Redskins lost to Liberty-Benton 59-47 on Jan. 4, but beat Perry 50-42 the night before. 

The Pirates (2-0 NWC) then host Paulding (2-7, 1-1 NWC) in a Northwest Conference game Friday, January 10. The Panthers have lost four in a row and seven of their last eight.