By Cort Reynolds
BLUFFTON - Host Bluffton used a big second quarter to hang on and defeat Defiance Tinora in a low-scoring Div. III sectional semifinal boys basketball game 41-38 Wednesday night. 

The 11th-seeded Pirates trailed 10-7 after the opening stanza as Marcus Grube fired in eight points for the visiting Rams.

But Bluffton responded with a 13-4 second stanza to grab a 20-14 lead at intermission. Kyler Kinn canned two triples in the period for Bluffton, while Nic Essinger added one trey.

The Rams inched within 30-27 heading into the final stanza. Both teams scored 11 points in the fourth quarter to keep the final margin of victory at three.

Essinger and Kinn led the victors with 11 points apiece.

Marcus Grube led all scorers with 22 points on the strength of six three-point field goals. He tallied eight points in each of the first and fourth periods.

The defeat was the sixth in the last seven games for the Rams. They had snapped a five-game losing skid with a victory in their final regular season contest over Delta.

Bluffton's record improved to 11-12 overall after winning for the fifth time in their last six games. Tinora, seeded 13th, ended up 5-13 after the defeat.

The Pirates visit top seed Ottawa-Glandorf (15-4) in sectional final play Friday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. The victor advances to the Lima Senior district March 4.

Bluffton (3-8 road) lost a tough battle at O-G January 2, 63-50. 

Lance Rinkel scored all eight of his points in the second half for the Rams vs. Bluffton. But only four players scored for Tinora.

The Pirates hit eight shots from inside the arc, and drained   six baskets from three-point territory. Bluffton converted seven of 11 attempts (64 percent) from the charity stripe.  

Tinora connected on 14 total baskets,     the same amount as Bluffton made. The visiting Rams canned just six two-point field goals but knocked down eight three-point goals. 

Tinora converted two of its mere three attempts from the charity stripe (67 percent).    

Bluffton committed 18 turnovers, while Tinora was guilty of 10     errors.     

The Pirates are now 8-4 at home this season. 

Tinora 38 (5-13)
Marc. Grube 8 0-0 22, Max Grube 1 2-3 4, Schafer 2 0-0 4, Rinkel 3 0-0 8, Harris 0, Wiemken 0, Bailey 0, Wolfram 0.
Totals: 6-8/2-3/38. 3-pointers: Grube 6, Rinkel 2.

Bluffton 41 (11-12)
Donley 2 1-3 6, Shutler 0 2-2 2, Kinn 4 1-2 11, Boblitt 1 0-0 2, Schaadt 1 2-2 4, Soper 2 0-0 5, Essinger 4 1-2 11.
Totals: 8-6/7-11/41. 3-pointers: Essinger 2, Kinn 2, Donley 1, Soper 1.

    1    2    3    4    F    
Tin    10    4    13    11    38
Blf    7    13    10    11    41