Bluffton methodically built a 17-point lead and defeated visiting Elmwood 56-39 in non-conference boys basketball action Wednesday night, December 22.

Bluffton led 13-8 after the opening stanza, and extended the lead to 28-19 at intermission.

A 12-4 Pirates third quarter run put the game out of reach. 

Bluffton improved to 5-1 with their fourth straight victory. The Royals fell to 3-3 with the defeat.

Pirate Trenton Donley led all scorers with 17 points on five field goals and perfect seven for seven foul shooting.

Teammate Kyler Kinn contributed 14 markers. Kaden Lora and Carson Soper each added six points.

Brady Ziegler topped the Royals with 11 points, and Kyler Heiserman added 10 points.

Bluffton drained 17 baskets, connecting on 16 two-pointers and one trey. They found the  bottom of the net on 21 of their 27 free throw attempts (78 percent).

Elmwood connected on 13 baskets, hitting nine two-pointers and four triples. The visitors converted nine of 12 charity stripe attempts (75 percent).

Bluffton committed nine turnovers, while Elmwood was guilty of 14 errors. 

Elmwood 39 (3-3)

Harrison 1 1-1 3, Lentz 1 0-0 2, Heiserman 4 2-3 10, Ziegler 4 0-0 11, Meyer 1 0-0 2, Reynolds 2 2-3 7, Max 0 4-5 4.

Totals: 9-4/9-12/39. 3-pointers: Ziegler 3, Reynolds 1.

Bluffton 56 (5-1)

Donley 5 7-7 17, Shutler 0, Soper 1 4-4 6, Kinn 6 2-7 14, Boblitt 1 2-2 4, Schaadt 1 0-0 2, Ackerman 1 0-0 2, Donaldson 0 2-2 2, Ginther 1 0-0 3, Lovell 0, Lora 1 4-5 6. 

Totals: 16-1/21-27/56. 3-pointer: Ginther 1.

1 2 3 4 F

Elm 8 11 4 16 39

Blu 13 15 12 16 56

Bluffton hosts the annual McDonald's Holiday tournament December 29-30.