By Cort Reynolds
VAN BUREN - Visiting Bluffton lost 40-29 to Van Buren in a low-scoring non-conference girls basketball contest Tuesday night.

Bluffton trailed just 9-8 after one period, but VB doubled them up by halftime, 22-11. The teams battled evenly 18-18 after
intermission. 

The loss dropped the Lady Pirate record to 14-7 overall,  while VB improved to 12-9 with the win.

Bluffton junior Layin Garmatter led the Pirates with eight points and two trifectas. Senior Kayla White netted seven markers, and sophomore Kylie Monday added six.

The Lady Black Knights were led by senior Mady Parker's game-high 13 points. Agnes Durliat contributed 11 markers, and Zoe Horne added seven.

The cold-shooting Bluffton girls canned just seven baskets. They sank only two two-point goals and hit five buckets from three-point land. The Pirate girls converted 10 of 22 from the charity stripe (45 percent).

The Lady Knights sank 14 field goals, 12 from inside the three-point line. VB made two triples and converted 10 of 20 from the foul line (50 percent). 

Bluffton committed 11 turnovers, while VB turned the ball over   just nine times. 

VB 40 (12-9)
Reineke 2 0-0 4, Pawlak 1 0-0 2, Durliat 4 3-4 11, Bishop 1 0-1 3, Parker 4 5-9 13, Horne 2 2-4 7, Recker 0 0-2 0.
Totals: 14/10-20/40. 3-pointers: Bishop 1, Horne 1.

Bluffton 29 (14-7)
B. Garmatter 1 0-0 3, L. Garmatter 2 2-4 8, White 2 2-4 7, Stackhouse 0 2-4 2, Monday 1 3-5 6, Bricker 0, Schaadt 1 1-5 3.  
Totals: 7/10-22/29. 3-pointers: L. Garmatter 2, Monday 1, White 1, B. Garmatter 1.
 
    1    2    3    4    F
VB    9    13    10    8    40
Bluf    7    4    9    9    29

The Lady Pirates close the regular season at non-league foe Lima Central Catholic (11-9) Thursday, Feb. 13. Bluffton is 5-4 on the road this season.