By Cort Reynolds
WAPAKONETA - Wapakoneta pulled away from visiting Bluffton with a big fourth period to post a 55-44 non-league boys basketball victory Tuesday night.

The Pirates trailed by just two points heading into the final stanza. But the Redskins outscored Bluffton 20-11 down the stretch to win by 11.

Wapakoneta hit eight of 11 free throws in the fourth period as Zach Rogers scored nine of his 13 points. Redskin Noah Ambos added seven of his 15 markers in the decisive last quarter.

Kyler Kinn was the lone Pirate in double figures with 10 points, seven of which came in the fourth quarter. 

Carson Soper added nine markers as he made all five of his foul shots. Trey Boblitt and Nate Schaadt contributed eight points each.

Bluffton dropped to 3-5 with the defeat, while Wapak improved to  8-2 after the win.     

Boblitt nailed two triples in the first period to keep Bluffton within 12-10 after the opening stanza. Wapak led 21-19 at halftime and 35-33 after three periods of play.

Kaden Siefring was the third Redskin in double digits with 10 points.

Wapak connected on 19 field goals. The Redskins sank five shots from three-point territory, and hit on 14 baskets inside the arc. The hosts canned 12 of 19 attempts from the charity stripe (63 percent).     

The Pirates canned eight shots inside the arc, and drained six launches from three-point land. Bluffton converted 10 of 18 free throws (56 percent) from the charity stripe.  

Bluffton was guilty of a dozen miscues, while Wapakoneta made 10 turnovers.

Wapakoneta 55 (8-2)
Ambos 5 3-3 15, Rogers 4 3-4 13, K. Siefring 4 2-4 10, Goulet 4 1-3 9, Bauer 1 0-0 2, Courter 1 0-0 3, G. Siefring 0 3-5 3.
Totals: 14-5/12-19/55. 3-pointers: Ambos 2, Rogers 2, Courter 1.

Bluffton 44 (3-5)
Donley 1 0-0 2, T. Shutler 2 0-2 4, Kinn 3 2-4 10, Boblitt 2 2-3 8, Schaadt 3 0-2 8, Soper 2 5-5 9, Essinger 1 1-2 3.
Totals: 8-6/10-18/44. 3-pointers: Kinn 2, Kinn 2, Schaadt 2. 
 
    1    2    3    4    F
Wap    12    9    14    20    55
Blf    10    9    14    11    44

Bluffton (1-1 NWC) travels to Paulding (5-4, 1-1 NWC) for a league game Friday night.

The Pirates conclude a run of four games in eight days by hosting Ft. Jennings (2-3) Saturday evening, Jan. 9.

The Pirates are 2-2 at home and 1-3 on the road this season.