By Cort Reynolds

The Bluffton High School boys basketball team lost to visiting Carey 47-43 in a close non-league bout Saturday night, January 14.

The Blue Devils trailed 26-21 at halftime, but turned the game around with a 17-8 third period. Five Carey players hit baskets in the momentum-changing quarter.

The teams played to a taut 9-9 tie in the fourth quarter. 

The combatants were tied 13-13 after the first period, but Bluffton spurted to a five-point intermission lead behind a 13-8 second quarter. 

Pirate Landen Worcester scored all 10 of his points in the first half to help Bluffton gain a five-point intermission edge.

Pirates Wade Ginther and Terron Boblitt each netted nine points. 

Bluffton sophomore Marek Donaldson tallied seven markers, and senior Carson Soper added six. 

Bluffton fell to 7-5 with the tough loss. Carey improved to 11-1 with the win that avenged a one-point home loss to the Pirates last season.

Boblitt sank three triples and Ginther hit two treys.

Brayden Young led Carey with 14 points. Devils Austin Niederkohr and Alexander Putnam each added 10 markers.

Young scored six points in the key third period, while Carter Smiley contributed five.

Bluffton connected on 16 field goals. Ten of their baskets came inside the arc, while they drained six three-point goals. 

Bluffton converted five of 10 attempts at the foul line (50 percent).

Carey canned 20 shots from the field, making 17 two-point goals and three treys. 

The Blue Devils converted four of eight shots from the charity stripe (50 percent). 

The Pirates committed just six turnovers, and the Devils made only five miscues.

Carey 47 (11-1)

Smiley 4 0-0 9, Putnam 3 4-7 10, Yeater 3 0-0 6, Brodman 1 0-0 2, Niederkohr 5 0-1 10, Young 6 0-0 14.

Totals: 17-3/4-5/47. 3-pointers: Young 2, Smiley 1.

Bluffton 43 (7-5)

Donaldson 3 0-0 7, L. Ginther 0, Soper 2 2-5 6, W. Ginther 3 1-2 9, Worcester 4 2-2 10, Boblitt 3 0-1 9, Wright 0, Lora 0, Yoder 0 0-0 0, Hilty 1 0-0 2. 

Totals: 10-6/5-10/43. 3-pointers: Donaldson 1, Ginther 2, Boblitt 3.

1 2 3 4 F

Car 13 8 17 9 47

Bluf 13 13 8 9 43

The Pirates (3-1 NWC) host league foe Lincolnview (1-9, 0-3 NWC) Friday, January 20.