By Cort Reynolds
BLUFFTON - Bluffton's Riley Eachus stole the ball and canned a three-point shot at the buzzer to give Bluffton a 51-48 upset win over league leader Paulding  in a Northwest Conference girls basketball thriller Thursday night.

The Lady Panthers led 11-6 after the first period, but Bluffton rallied to a 25-21 halftime edge. Five Pirate girls scored in their 19-10 second quarter run.

Bluffton held a 38-36 third quarter edge after a close 15-13 stanza.

Eachus scored five points in the decisive fourth period, while Kylie Stackhouse and Sami Scoles each netted four markers as the Pirates held on for the win.

Bluffton's record improved to 7-6 overall and 2-2 in the NWC with the upset victory. Paulding dropped to 9-3 (3-1 NWC) and second in the league after the defeat. 

Paulding's Leigha Egnor led all players with 27 points. She canned 12 baskets, including three three-point goals. Egnor netted 15 of her points in the second half. 

Panther teammate Janae Pease added eight points.

Eachus led Bluffton with 14 points. Scoles tallied 13 points, while Stackhouse added 10 for Bluffton. Haelynn Bischoff contributed six markers.

The Pirate girls canned 23 baskets. They sank 19 two-pointers and made four triples. Bluffton converted one of three free throw attempts (33 percent). 

Paulding connected on 20 field goals, hitting 15 two-pointers and  five shots from three-point territory. The Panther girls canned three of their four foul shots (75 percent).

Paulding 48 (9-3, 3-1 NWC)
Schweller 0, Parrett 2 0-0 6, Pease 3 2-2 8, Egnor 12 0-0 27, Manz 1 0-0 2, Estle 2 1-2 5.
Totals: 15-5/3-4/48. 3-pointers: Egnor 3, Parrett 2.

Bluffton 51 (7-6, 2-2 NWC)
Bischoff 3 0-0 6, Garmatter 1 0-0 3, Busch 0 0-2 0, Eachus 6 0-0 14, Stackhouse 5 0-0 10, Bricker 1 1-1 3, Scoles 6 0-0 13, Monday 1 0-0 2. 
Totals: 19-4/1-3/51. 3-pointers: Eachus 2, Scoles 1, Garmatter 1.     
 
    1    2    3    4    F
Pau    11    10    15    12    48
Blf    6    19    13    13    51

Bluffton (5-2 home) entertains non-league rival Van Buren (5-3) Saturday. VB defeated Allen East 57-53 Monday.