By Cort Reynolds
VAN BUREN - Visiting Bluffton built a double-digit lead and staved off a late Van Buren rally to win a non-conference boys basketball makeup contest 49-44 Wednesday night. 

The Pirates led 10-6 after the first period and extended the margin to 24-12 at intermission. Bluffton's Kyler Kinn scored all eight of his points in the second stanza on four baskets, while Trey Boblitt canned a pair of trifectas as the Pirates built the lead to 12.     
 
Bluffton inched its lead to 35-22 after three periods of play. VB tallied as many points in the fourth quarter as they had in the first three combined. 

But the Black Knights could not overcome the 13-point deficit despite doubling their output in one stanza.

Bluffton's record improved to 9-12 after the victory, their third win in the last four games. VB fell to 2-19 with the defeat.

Boblitt and Carson Soper led Bluffton with 11 points apiece. Nic Essinger and Kinn both tallied eight markers. Trenton Donley added six points on two triples.

VB junior Andrew Schroeder tallied nine of his 15 points in the fourth period for the Black Knights.

The Pirates hit 14 shots from inside the arc, and drained seven baskets from three-point territory. Bluffton missed all six of their attempts (0 percent) from the charity stripe.  

VB connected on 16 total baskets, five less than Bluffton made. The Knights canned 10 two-point goals and knocked down six     three-point goals. 

The Black Knights converted six of seven attempts from the charity stripe (85 percent).    

Bluffton committed 18 turnovers, while the Knights also were guilty of 18 errors.    

The Pirates are now 3-8 on the road this season.

The Black Knights had snapped a 10-game losing skid by upsetting a 16-5 Kalida club 45-35. 
VB 44 (2-19)
Reichley 1 1-1 3, Durliat 0 0-1 0, Miller 3 0-0 8, Coffey 1 0-0 3, Sendelbach 2 1-1 5, Schroeder 5 4-4 15, Beiharz 3 0-0 8, Rampe 1 0-0 2.
Totals: 10-6/6-7/44. 3-pointers: Berharz 2, Miller 2, Coffey 1, Schroeder 1.

Bluffton 49 (9-12)
Donley 2 0-0 6, T. Shutler 1 0-0 2, Kinn 4 0-0 8, Boblitt 4 0-1 11, Schaadt 1 0-4 3, Soper 5 0-1 11, Essinger 4 0-0 8.
Totals: 14-7/0-6/49. 3-pointers: Boblitt 3, Donley 2, Soper 1, Schaadt 1.

    1    2    3    4    F
VB    6    6    10    22    44
Blf    10    14    11    14    49    

Bluffton (1-6 NWC) concludes its regular season at home vs. league rival Delphos Jefferson (7-12, 4-3 NWC) Friday, Feb. 19. DJ defeated arch-rival Spencerville in overtime 66-62 last Friday night.

Columbus Grove (7-0 NWC) can clinch its second straight undefeated NWC title season with a home win vs. Ada (1-6 NWC) Friday night.

The Pirates (6-4 home) entertain Defiance Tinora (4-11) in Div. III sectional first round play Feb. 24.