By Cort Reynolds
ELIDA - Homestanding Elida outscored Bluffton by six points in the second half to pull out a close 64-60 victory in non-conference boys basketball action Tuesday night.
The Pirates trailed 15-12 after the first period, but Bluffton rallied to grab a 31-29 edge at intermission as Carson Soper scored eight second-period points.
Elida inched in front 47-46 after three periods of play. The Bulldogs then canned 10 of 15 fourth period foul shots to win the quarter 17-14 and hold on for the four-point victory.
Bluffton's record dropped 7-12 after the defeat. Elida improved to 3-14 with just their second win in their last nine games.
Soper led Bluffton with 17 points. Senior Nic Essinger netted 11 markers. Trenton Donley tallied 10, and Trey Boblitt added eight points.
Elida senior Aidan Bartels led all players with 22 points. Senior Tyler Long contributed 15 markers, while junior Austin Miller added nine points.
The Pirates hit 14 shots from inside the arc, and drained eight goals from three-point territory. Bluffton converted eight of 13 attempts (62 percent) from the charity stripe.
Elida connected on 22 total baskets, the same as Bluffton made. The Bulldogs canned 15 two-point goals and sank five trifectas.
The hosts converted 15 of 21 attempts from the charity stripe (71 percent). They outscored the Pirates 15-8 from the foul line to spell the difference on the scoreboard.
Bluffton was guilty of 13 turnovers, while the Bulldogs committed 15 errors.
The Pirates are now 1-8 on the road this season.
Elida 64 (3-14)
Long 3 8-9 15, Miller 3 2-2 9, Bartels 9 3-4 22, Layman 3 0-1 6, Henderson 2 2-4 8, Engle 2 0-1 4.
Totals: 17-5/15-21/64. 3-pointers: Henderson 2, Bartels 1, Long 1, Miller 1.
Bluffton 60 (7-12)
Donley 4 1-2 10, T. Shutler 2 2-2 6, Kinn 3 0-2 6, Boblitt 3 0-0 8, Schaadt 1 0-2 2, Soper 6 3-3 17, Essinger 4 2-2 11.
Totals: 14-8/8-13/60. 3-pointers: Donley 3, Boblitt 2, Soper 2, Essinger 1.
1 2 3 4 F
Eli 15 14 18 17 64
Blf 12 19 15 14 60
Bluffton (6-4 home) hosts another struggling WBL foe in winless Kenton (0-13) Saturday, Feb. 13.
The Pirates then visit Van Buren (1-17) Tuesday, Feb. 16. The Black Knights have lost nine in a row.
Bluffton (1-6 NWC) finishes the regular season at home vs. league rival Delphos Jefferson (5-12, 3-3 NWC) Friday, Feb. 19.
The Pirates entertain Defiance Tinora (4-10) in Div. III sectional first round play Feb. 24.
