By Cort Reynolds
BLUFFTON - Host Bluffton outscored Wapakoneta 24-17 in the second half to pull out a 51-46 non-league boys basketball win Tuesday evening.

Bluffton bounced back from its first loss last Saturday despite being down 29-27 at halftime. The Pirates took the lead with a 13-8 third period as Jared Piercefield scored eight key points.

Bluffton then won the fourth period 11-8 as senior Luke Denecker tallied eight points. The Pirates buried 11 three-point goals to pave the way to a hard-fought victory.

Bluffton improved to 8-1 with the win, while the Redskins fell to 3-6 with the defeat.

The Pirates connected on 19 baskets, with eight deuces and the 11 aforementioned three-pointers. Bluffton converted two of two from the charity stripe (100 percent). 

The Redskins made 17 field goals, including seven from three-point land and 10 inside the arc. Wapak converted five of seven at the charity stripe (71 percent).

Denecker led the victors with 19 points with the aid of five trifectas. Piercefield netted 13 points on three triples, while Mason Soper added 10 for the Pirates. Levi Hohenbrink canned two treys in the first period.

Reed Mericle topped Wapak with 13 points.

Wapak 46 (3-6)
Ambos 4 0-1 8, Mericle 5 0-0 13, K. Siefring 1 3-4 5, Goulet 2 2-2 7, Ware 3 0-0 9, G. Siefring 2 0-0 4.
Totals: 17/5-7/46. 3-pointers: Mericle 3, Ware 3, Goulet 1. 

Bluffton 51 (8-1)
Schriner 1 0-0 3, Garmatter 0, Shutler 0, Soper 5 0-0 10, Piercefield 5 0-0 13, Denecker 6 2-2 19, Hohenbrink 2 0-0 6. 
Totals: 19/2-2/51. 3-pointers: Denecker 5, Piercefield 3, Hohenbrink 2, Schriner 1. 
 
    1    2    3    4    F
Wap    15    14    9    8    46
Blf    16    11    13    11    51     

Bluffton (2-0 NWC) hosts Paulding (2-7, 1-1 NWC) Friday, January 10 in a league contest. The Panthers have lost four in a row and seven of their last eight.