By Cort Reynolds
MIDDLE POINT - Visiting Bluffton was ambushed by a big Lincolnview second half in a 61-45 Lancer upset in Northwest Conference boys basketball play Friday evening.

The Pirates fell to 11-2 overall and 3-1 in the NWC after having their four-game win streak snapped. Meanwhile, the Lancers improved to 6-6 and 2-1 in the NWC with the win.

Bluffton held the lead twice, initially at 25-24 in the second quarter and again at 30-28 in the third period. But the Lancers outscored the Pirates 35-20 in the second half to win going away.

A layup by Bluffton senior Mason Soper inched the visitors within 40-37 in the first minute of the fourth period. Yet Lincolnview answered with 9-3 run to extend the lead to 49-40.

Lincolnview later canned six of eight free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

Early on, the Lancers ran out to a 14-4 advantage and the hosts led 16-10 after the opening stanza. Bluffton then reeled off seven unanswered points to grab a 25-24 lead with just under two minutes left in the half. 

Lincolnview's Collin Overholt hit a late jumper to put the hosts back on top 26-25 at intermission.

Bluffton forged in front 30-28 lead early in the third quarter on a three-point play inside from Soper. Another old-fashioned three-point play by Pirate senior Luke Denecker tied it 33-all for the last time midway through the quarter. 

Lincolnview surged ahead 40-35 heading to the fourth period on a Clayton Leeth three-pointer in the final seconds. The Lancers then outscored Bluffton 21-10 over the last eight minutes to win by 16.

Pirate senior Soper led Bluffton with 14 points. Classmate Jared Piercefield tallied 11 points, and Denecker added 10.

Lancer Overholt led all scorers with 16 points. Jake Bowersock contributed 15 markers on six of seven shooting accuracy.

The cold-shooting Pirates connected on just 16 of 49 field shots (32 percent). Bluffton connected on 13 of 27 on two-pointers (48 percent), but made just three of 22 three-pointers (13 percent). Bluffton converted 10 of 17 from the charity stripe (59 percent). 

The Lancers canned 22 of 43 field goal tries (51 percent), including 19 of 31 on deuces and 3 of 12 from three-point land (25 percent). Lincolnview converted 14 of 16 attempts from the charity stripe (88 percent).

The Pirate reserves won 59-49 to improve to 12-1. Freshman Carson Soper topped the Bluffton JV with 22 points.

Bluffton 45 (11-2, 3-1 NWC)
Garmatter 1 0-0 2, Soper 5 3-5 14, Piercefield 4 2-2 11, Denecker 3-13 4-8 10, Hohenbrink 2 0-0 5, Schriner 0, Stutler 0, Essinger 1 1-2 3, Ault 0. 
Totals: 16-49/10-17/45. 3-pointers(3-22): Soper 1, Piercefield 1, Hohenbrink 1.

Lincolnview 61 (6-6, 2-1 NWC)
Leeth 2 3-3 8, Cavinder 3 0-2 8, Overholt 6 4-4 16, Bowersock 6 3-3 15, Jessee 3 4-4 10, Price 2 0-0 4, Richardson 0, Hatfield 0. 
Totals: 22-43/14-16/61. 3-pointers (3-12): Cavinder 2, Leeth 1.

    1    2    3    4    F
Bluf     10     15     10     10     45
Lview    16     10     14     21     61
JV: Bluffton 59, L'view 49. 

Miami Valley Country Day 68 - Pirates 51
TOLEDO - After a slow start, the visiting Bluffton boys lost at Miami Valley Country Day 68-51 Saturday evening.

The Pirates fell to 11-3 after suffering their second road loss in a row in as many days. Meanwhile, the Hawks improved to 6-8 with the non-league win.

Bluffton trailed 11-5 after a low-scoring first period. MVCD extended the lead to 24-13 at halftime, then outscored the Pirates in a more offensive second half, 44-38.

Hawk junior J.R. Lumsden led all scorers with 28 points, 17 of which came in the second half. Junior teaammate Tremaine Sims contributed 18 points.

Pirate senior Soper led Bluffton with 18 points. Classmate Luke Denecker netted 17, and senior Jared Piercefield added eight markers.

The Pirates connected on just 15 shots from the field. Bluffton canned 10 two-pointers and five three-point goals. Bluffton converted 16 of 28 from the charity stripe (57 percent). 

The Hawks canned 22 deuces and three shots from three-point territory. MVCD converted 15 of its 21 attempts from the charity stripe (71 percent).

Bluffton 51 (11-3)
Deardorff 0 2-5 2, Schriner 1 1-1 3, Garmatter 1 1-2 3, Soper 6 4-7 18, Piercefield 2 4-7 8, Denecker 5 4-6 17, Ault 0. 
Totals: 15/16-28/51. 3-pointers: Denecker 3, Soper 2.

MCVD 68 (6-8)
Jett 2 3-4 7, Alexander 1 3-5 5, Lumsden 11 6-8 28, Sims 7 2-2 18, Frankhauser 3 0-0 7, Jefferson 0 1-2 1, Szollesi 1 0-0 2.
Totals: 25/15-21/68. 3-pointers: Sims 2, Frankhauser 1.

    1    2    3    4    F
Bluf     5     8     18     20     51
MCVD    11     13     20     24    68

Bluffton (3-1 NWC) tries to get back on track when they host Spencerville (2-11, 0-3 NWC) Friday, Jan. 24 in league play.