By Cort Reynolds
BLUFFTON - Host Bluffton turned back Leipsic 70-63 to gain a hard-earned non-conference boys basketball win Tuesday evening.

Click here for game photos by Marvin Foster.
Top 10 all-time scorer list at bottom of story

Pirate senior Luke Denecker scored 22 points to become the second Bluffton boys player to tally more than 1,000 career points. 

Michael Kingsley was the first in Pirate program history to surpass that milestone about 20 years ago.

Bluffton led 19-9 after the first quarter, but Leipsic rallied within 32-29 by halftime. The Pirates pulled back in front 51-42 with a strong third period, and maintained their lead down the stretch to post the win. 

Bluffton sank nine of 12 free throws in the final period to keep the Vikings at bay.

The Pirates improved to 11-1 overall with their fourth victory in a row. Meanwhile, Leipsic fell to 5-5 with the defeat.

Senior Jared Piercefield also scored 22 point to tie Denecker for game-high scoring honors. Classmate Mason Soper contributed 13 points.  

Mason Brandt paced the Vikings with 21 points with five trifectas. Teammate Jaden Siefker added 10 markers.

The Pirates connected on 24 baskets, including 19 two-pointers and five three-pointers. Bluffton converted a strong 17 of 20 from the charity stripe (85 percent). 

The Vikings canned 25 field goals, including 15 deuces and 10 baskets from three-point land. But Leipsic converted three of six attempts from the charity stripe (50 percent) as they were outscored 17-3 at the line.

Leipsic 63 (5-5)
Brandt 8 0-0 21, T. Schroeder 0, Pena 3 0-2 6, Siefker 4 0-0 10, Niese 2 0-0 4, Liffick 3 2-2 9, E. Schroeder 1 1-2 3, Walther 1 0-0 2, Sickmiller 3 0-0 8.
Totals: 25/3-6/63. 3-pointers: Brandt 5, Siefker 2, Sickmiller 2, Liffick 1. 

Bluffton 70 (11-1)
Schriner 0, Garmatter 1 2-2 4, Soper 5 0-0 13, Piercefield 9 4-5 22, Denecker 5 11-13 22, Hohenbrink 3 0-0 7, Essinger 1 0-0 2. 
Totals: 24/17-20/70. 3-pointers: Soper 3, Denecker 1, Hohenbrink 1. 
 
    1    2    3    4    F
Leip    9    20    13    21    63 
Blf    19    13    19    19    70      

Bluffton (3-0 NWC) visits NWC foe Lincolnview (5-6, 1-1 NWC) Friday, January 17. The Lancers have lost three in a row and five of their last six contests.

Bluffton (4-0 road) then visits Maumee Valley Country Day (5-7) Saturday, Jan. 18.