Head coach Todd Boblitt wins 200th game

By Cort Reynolds

The visiting Bluffton High School boys basketball team defeated Leipsic 73-64 in a Northwest Conference battle Friday night, January 13.

The Pirates led 19-15 after the first period, and extended their margin to 39-30 at halftime. 

The Vikings cut their deficit to 53-49 heading to the fourth period.

But in the final stanza, the Pirates prevailed 20-15 to win by nine.

Wade Ginther tallied a career-high 24 points to pace the victors. He scored seven points in the fourth period to help keep the Vikings at bay.

Senior Carson Soper netted 18 markers with three triples. He scored 12 of his points in the first half.

Pirate sophomore Marek Donaldson added a dozen points with two treys in the first quarter.

Defending league champion Bluffton improved to 7-4 overall and 3-1 in the NWC with the victory. The Pirates are tied for second in the conference with Crestview and Columbus Grove, a half-game behind Spencerville (3-0).

Leipsic dropped to 4-6 overall and 1-3 in NWC play with the defeat.

Terron Boblitt tallied eight points, and Landen Worcester added seven markers for the victors.

Ty Lammers led Leipsic with 21 points. Quin Schroeder added 12 points, and Bryce Brecht hit for 11.

Bluffton connected on 27 field goals. Twenty of their baskets came inside the arc, while they canned seven three-point goals. 

Bluffton also converted 12 of its 14 attempts at the foul line (86 percent).

Leipsic nailed 24 shots from the field, canning 17 two-point goals and seven treys. 

The Vikings converted nine of 14 shots from the charity stripe (64 percent). 

The Pirates committed 12 turnovers, and the Vikings made 13 miscues.

Leipsic 64 (4-6, 1-3 NWC)

Brecht 4 2-3 11, Q. Schroeder 3 6-6 12, Ellerbrock 2 0-0 5, Siefker 5 1-3 13, Scheckelhoff 1 0-0 2, Lammers 9 0-2 21. 

Totals: 17-7/9-14/64. 3-pointers: Lammers 3, Siefker 2, Brecht 1, Ellerbrock 1.

Bluffton 73 (7-4, 3-1 NWC)

Donaldson 4 2-2 12, L. Ginther 0, Soper 7 1-2 18, W. Ginther 10 3-3 24, Worcester 2 3-3 7, Boblitt 2 3-4 8, Wright 0, Lora 0, Yoder 1 0-0 2, Hilty 1 0-0 2. 

Totals: 20-7/12-14/73. 3-pointers: Soper 3, Donaldson 2, Ginther 1, Boblitt 1.

1 2 3 4 F

Leip 15 15 19 15 64

Bluf 19 20 14 20 73

The Pirates host non-league foe Carey Saturday, Jan. 14.