Visiting Bluffton outscored Delphos Jefferson 18-9 in the fourth quarter to rally and post a 45-39 win in the Northwest Conference boys basketball opener Friday night, December 10.

After a low-scoring start, the game was tied 16-16 at halftime. DJ edged ahead 30-27 after three periods before Bluffton pulled off its final stanza comeback.

Kyler Kinn tallied 12 of his game-high 21 points in the fourth period to pace the Pirate rally.

Trey Boblitt netted eight points, while Carson Soper added seven markers.

Bluffton improved to 2-1 (1-0 NWC) with the win, while DJ fell to 1-4 and 0-1 with the defeat.

Collin Bailey and Trent Teman led Jefferson with 15 points apiece.

The Pirates connected on 15 field goals, hitting 13 two-pointers and two trifectas. Bluffton converted just 13 of its 30 free throws (43 percent).  

DJ sank four shots from three-point territory, and connected on six baskets inside the arc for a total of just 10 field goals. The Wildcats canned 15 of their 23 attempts from the charity stripe (65 percent).

Bluffton committed just nine turnovers. DJ was guilty of 13 errors, 10 in the second half.

DJ 39 (1-4, 0-1 NWC)

Bailey 5 2-3 15, Teman 4 6-9 15, Miller 0 2-3 2, Carder 1 2-4 4, Grothaus 0 3-4 3.

Totals: 6-4/15-23/39. 3-pointers: Bailey 3, Teman 1.

Bluffton 45 (2-1, 1-0 NWC)

Donley 1 1-1 3, Soper 2 3-6 7, Kinn 7 7-16 21, Boblitt 3 1-2 8, Schaadt 0 1-4 1, Donaldson 1 0-0 3, Lora 1 0-1 2. 

Totals: 13-2/13-30/45. 3-pointers: Boblitt 1, Donaldson 1. 

1 2 3 4 F

DJ 7 9 14 9 39

Blf 8 8 11 18 45

Bluffton visits McComb (0-2) Saturday, Dec. 11 in a non-conference battle.