By Cort Reynolds

The visiting Bluffton High School girls basketball squad suffered its first loss 45-43 at Ottoville in a non-league nailbiter Saturday afternoon, December 3.

The Lady Pirates dropped to 4-1 with the close loss that knocked them from the unbeaten ranks. Meanwhile, the Big Green improved to 3-1 with the win.

"We dug ourselves a hole and made uncharacteristic mistakes," said Pirate head coach Eric Garmatter. 

"We had chances to tie it in the final three seconds. Not to take anything away from Ottoville, but I feel like we beat ourselves more than anything," he added.

With 2.7 seconds left, the Pirates got an open look from mid-range to tie it and send the game to overtime, but the shot missed.

The tight contest was knotted 6-6 after the first period, and stayed tied 15-15 going into halftime. Ottoville surged ahead 30-25 after three periods, and held on for the win.

Senior point guard Sami Scoles led all scorers with 15 points. Scoles buried two triples as she scored eight of the 18 Pirate points in the fourth quarter, but the valiant comeback effort came up just short.

Sophomore post Ayla Grandey contributed a dozen markers.

Isabelle Furley led the Big Green with 11 points. Jessa Burgei tallied nine. The three Turnwald girls combined for 15 markers, with Skylar accounting for nine.

The Lady Pirates sank 15 baskets. They canned 10 two-point shots and splashed five shots from beyond the arc. Bluffton converted  eight of 15 charity stripe tries (53 percent).

The Big Green made 14 two-point field goals, and draineed  three triples for 17 total baskets. Ottoville canned eight of 18 foul shots (44 percent).

"Being our first road game made a difference; we were also out of our normal Saturday afternoon routine," agreed Garmatter.

Ottoville 45 (3-1)

Burgei 3 3-7 9, Thorbahn 2 1-3 5, Langhals 1 0-0 3, S. Turnwald 4 4 1-3 9, P. Turnwald 2 0-1 4, Sehlhorst 1 0-0 2, B. Turnwald 0 2-2 2, Furley 4 1-2 11.

Totals: 14-3/8-18/45. 3-pointers: Langals 1, Furley 2. 

Bluffton 43 (4-1)

Mehaffie 2 0-0 4, Fleece 0, Schweingruber 0, Eachus 2 0-0 5, Giesige 2 2-5 7, Scoles 5 2-4 15, Grandey 4 4-6 12. 

Totals: 10-5/8-15/43. 3-pointers: Scoles 3, Giesige 1, Eachus 1.

1 2 3 4 F

Otto 6 9 15 15 45

Bluf 6 9 10 18 43

The Pirates (0-1 road) play their league lidlifter at unbeaten rival Delphos Jefferson (3-0, 1-0 NWC) Thursday, December 8.

"Hopefully we learn from the loss and move on," said Garmatter. "Delphos is the team who is picked to win the NWC again."