The white-hot Bluffton High School boys basketball team remained first in the Northwest Conference following a 66-58 win over visiting Spencerville in a key league showdown Friday night, January 28

Trenton Donley netted 16 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter to pace the victors.

Bluffton held a narrow 12-11 lead after the first period, and inched ahead 21-19 at halftime. A 17-10 third quarter run extended their lead to 38-29 heading to a wild final period.

The teams combined for 57 fourth-period points as Spencerville doubled its output over the first 24 minutes in the final eight.

But the Pirates hit 13 of 20 free throws in the fourth period to tally 28 points, and they held on to record their 12th win in a row.

The Pirates improved to 13-1 overall and 6-0 in the NWC with the triumph. Bluffton has not lost since Dec. 4 at Liberty-Benton, 51-29.

The Bearcats fell to 13-3 overall and 3-2 in the NWC after their second straight defeat.

Trey Boblitt contributed 14 points, while Kyler Kinn tallied 11 markers on nine foul shots. Carson Soper added eight points.

Bluffton drained 20 field shots, hitting 17 two-pointers while splashing three treys. The Pirates converted 23 of a whopping 33 attempts at the charity stripe (70 percent).

Tyler Koenig led the Bearcats with 17 points. Josh Henline added 13 markers, while Ethan Smith tallied 11.

The Bearcats canned 23 baskets, but got outscored by 13 in free throws. Spencerville sank 21 two-pointers and two triples, and  converted 10 of 12 at the foul line (83 percent).

Bluffton committed 12 turnovers, while the Bearcats made 13 errors.

Bluffton 66 (13-1, 6-0 NWC)

Donley 9 5-5 25, Kinn 1 9-15 11, Soper 3 2-2 8, Boblitt 4 5-5 14, Donaldson 1 0-2 2, Schaadt 2 2-4 6, Lora 0. 

Totals: 17-3/23-33/66. 3-pointers: Donley 2, Boblitt 1.

S'ville 58 (13-3, 3-2 NWC)

Henline 5 2-2 13, Osting 1 0-0 2, Smith 5 1-1 11, Elling 1 0-0 2, Sudhoff 2 0-0 4, Koenig 5 7-8 17, Harter 1 0-0 2, Sommers 3 0-1 7.

Totals: 21-2/10-12/58. 3-pointers: Henline 1, Sommers 1.

1 2 3 4 F

Svl 11 8 10 29 58

Blu 12 9 17 28 66

Bluffton (7-0 home) entertains tough non-league rival Pandora-Gilboa (12-4) Saturday night, Jan. 29. P-G whipped Cory-Rawson 70-19 Friday night. The Pirates beat C-R 76-25 December 29.