Playing at home, the Bluffton High School boys basketball team decisively defeated Elida 60-34 in a non-conference bout Tuesday night, February 8.

The Pirates improved to 16-2 with the one-sided win. The Bulldogs dropped to 3-16 with the defeat.

Trenton Donley led three Pirates in double figures with 17 points and three treys. Trey Boblitt drained four triples to score 14 points. Kyler Kinn added 11 markers.

The Pirates knocked down nine treys and outscored Elida 38-19 in the second half to secure the win.

Bluffton trailed 9-8 after the first period, but took control with a 14-6 second stanza to lead by seven at the half. 

Bluffton put the game all but out of reach with a 22-12 third period run. Boblitt buried three trifectas, and Donley tallied seven points in the third quarter.

The Pirates poured it on further with a 16-7 fourth period as Donley netted eight points behind two treys. 

Over the final 24 minutes, the hosts outscored Elida 52-25. 

Bluffton drilled 21 field goals, hitting 12 two-pointers while draining nine treys. The Pirates converted just nine of 20 attempts at the charity stripe (45 percent).

The Bulldogs canned 13 baskets. They sank 11 two-pointers and hit two triples, and converted six of 10 shots at the foul line (60 percent).

Bluffton committed 13 turnovers, while Elida was guilty of 20 costly errors.

Bluffton 60 (16-2)

Donley 6 2-3 17, Shutler 0 0-2 0, Kinn 4 2-6 11, Soper 1 0-0 2, Boblitt 4 2-2 14, Donaldson 2 1-3 6, Schaadt 1 1-2 3, Lovell 1 0-0 2, Lora 1 0-0 2, Ginther 1 0-0 2, Yoder 0 1-2 1. 

Totals: 12-9/9-20/60. 3-pointers: Boblitt 4, Donley 3, Kinn 1, Donaldson 1.

Elida 34 (3-16)

Wash 0 2-2 2, Sharp 1 1-2 3, Thomas 1 0-0 2, Island 3 1-3 7, Miller 3 2-3 9, Covault 2 0-0 4, Engle 2 0-0 4, Etzkorn 1 0-0 3.

Totals: 11-2/6-10/34. 3-pointers: Miller 1, Etzkorn 1. 

1 2 3 4 F

Eli 9 6 12 7 34

Blu 8 14 22 16 60

League-leading Bluffton (6-1 NWC) hosts dangerous local rival Allen East (11-7, 3-3 NWC) Friday, February 11. 

With a win, the Pirates can clinch at least a share of the Northwest Conference crown. Bluffton is 9-0 at home this season.

Crestview (5-1) has a chance to win the league as well, but they lost to Bluffton 49-48 January 7. The Knights have to play at arch-rival Lincolnview (2-4) Friday, and host Leipsic (4-3) Feb. 18 in their final two league games.