By Cort Reynolds
BLUFFTON - The host Bluffton boys basetball team lost 63-50 to Crestview in Northwest Conference action Monday night in a makeup game from December 18.
The Knights led 21-17 after a high-scoring first period, with each team hitting three triples. Crestview took control with a 17-6 second period run to lead 38-23 at halftime.
The Pirates cut the deficit to 45-36 behind a 13-7 third stanza as Nate Schaadt scored seven points. But the hosts pulled away with an 18-point fourth period to win by 13.
Bluffton fell to 2-2 overall and 1-1 in the NWC with the defeat. Crestview improved to 5-2 and 1-1 in league action with the victory.
The Knights had lost 54-48 to defending champion and league favorite Columbus Grove in the NWC opener.
Trey Boblitt drained four trifectas to lead the Pirates with 13 points. Schaadt tallied nine points, while Tyson Shutler and Carson Soper added eight apiece. Kyler Kinn and Trenton Donley both netted six markers.
Kalen Etzler of Crestview led all scorers with 14 points, 11 of which came in the first half. J.J. Ward and Carson Kreischer each contributed a dozen points. Nathan Lichtle added nine points on three treys.
The Knights connected on seven more field goals than Bluffton, 25-18. The hosts sank eight tries from three-point territory and hit 17 shots from two-point range.
Crestview canned just five of 11 attempts from the charity stripe (45 percent).
The Pirates canned 12 baskets inside the arc and hit on six shots from three-point territory. They converted just eight of 18 free throws (44 percent) from the charity stripe.
Bluffton committed just six turnovers compared to seven miscues by the Knights.
Crestview 63 (5-2, 1-1 NWC)
K. Etzler 6 1-3 14, Jackson 1 0-2 2, G. Etzler 1 0-0 3, Hunter 2 2-3 7, Temple 2 0-1 4, Brect 0, Ward 5 0-0 12, Kreischer 5 2-2 12, Lichtle 3 0-0 9.
Totals: 17-8/5-11/63. 3-pointers: Lichtle 3, Ward 2, K. Etzler 1, Hunter 1, G. Etzler 1.
Bluffton 50 (2-2, 1-1 NWC)
Donley 3 0-0 6, T. Shutler 3 2-7 8, Kinn 3 0-0 6, Boblitt 4 1-2 13, Schaadt 4 0-1 9, Soper 1 5-8 8.
Totals: 12-6/8-18/50. 3-pointers: Boblitt 4, Schaadt 1, Soper 1.
1 2 3 4 F
Cvw 21 17 7 18 63
Bluf 17 6 13 14 50
The Pirates host the annual Bluffton McDonald's Holiday Tournament Dec. 29-30.
Bluffton plays Cory-Rawson (3-3) in the semifinal round Tuesday, Dec. 29 at 5:30, followed by Continental (3-5) vs. Arlington (3-2) at 7:30 p.m.
The winners meet in the title game Dec. 30 at 7:30, preceded by the consolation contest at 5:30.
Bluffton is 1-1 at home and 1-1 on the road this season.
