By Cort Reynolds

The Bluffton High School boys basketball team raced to a huge halftime lead and trounced visiting McComb 66-32 in a non-league game Saturday night, December 10.

The Pirates led 16-4 after the first period, and the hosts ballooned the margin to 38-10 at halftime. Bluffton drained seven of their 10 trifectas in the first half.

A 20-8 third period stretched the Bluffton cushion to 40 points heading to the final stanza.

Four Pirates scored in double figures as Carson Soper led the victors with 14 points on four triples. Three of his treys came in the first half.

Wade Ginther tallied seven of his dozen markers in the 22-6 second period outburst. 

Landen Worcester and Marek Donaldson netted 11 points apiece. Donaldson canned three treys, while Kaden Lora added eight markers.

The Pirates improved to 2-3 with their second home win in as many nights. Meanwhile, the struggling Panthers dropped to 1-3 with the lopsided loss.

Mason Holman topped the Panthers with 12 points.

The Pirates connected on 25 field goals, hitting 15 two-pointers and 10 trifectas. Bluffton converted six of 12 free throws (50 percent).

McComb hit on 13 field goals, sinking four shots from three-point territory and nine baskets inside the arc. 

The Panthers canned just two of eight attempts from the charity stripe (25 percent).

McComb 32 (1-3)

Kline 0, Glaser 3 1-4 7, Clark-Rader 1 0-0 2, Rodriguez 1 0-0 2,  Downing 1 0-0 2, Baldridge 0, Weaver 0, Dishong 0, Holman 4 1-2 12, Stutzman 2 0-0 5, Gault 1 0-0 2, Tooman 0 0-2 0, Wittenmyer 0.

Totals: 9-4/2-8/32. 3-pointers: Holman 3, Stutzman 1. 

Bluffton 66 (2-3)

Donaldson 4 0-0 11, L. Ginther 0 2-2 2, Soper 4 2-4 14, Ginther 5 1-1 12, Worcester 5 0-0 11, Boblitt 0, Lora 3 1-5 8, Yoder 1 0-0 2, Hilty 3 0-0 6. 

Totals: 15-10/6-12/66. 3-pointers: Soper 4, Ginther 1, Donaldson 3, Lora 1, Worcester  1. 

1 2 3 4 F

McC 4 6 8 14 32

Blf 16 22 20 8 66

Bluffton visits local league rival Ada (3-2, 0-1 NWC) Friday, December 16 in a backyard battle. The Bulldogs started out 3-0, but lost twice this weekend on the road at Columbus Grove and Perry.