By Cort Reynolds

Playing at home, the Bluffton High School girls basketball team got off to a big lead and defeated non-conference foe Pandora-Gilboa easily 59-27 Saturday afternoon, January 14.

Bluffton improved to 10-5 overall with the win as they increased their home record to 8-1. 

Struggling P-G fell to 1-12 after the loss.

Pirate senior southpaw guard Sami Scoles poured in 13 first-period points to shoot Bluffton to a 23-11 lead.

Scoles scored six points in the second stanza on three baskets to help Bluffton build a 33-18 halftime advantage.

The Pirate girls won the second half, 26-9. Ayla Grandey tallied five baskets in the third period as the hosts ballooned the lead to 49-23.

The heady Scoles ended up with a game-high 20 points.

Sophomore post Grandey tallied 19 points for Bluffton. Riley Eachus added eight markers with two triples.

Ava Huffman led P-G with nine points, seven of which came in the first stanza.

Bluffton canned 23 shots from the field, hitting 20 deuces and three shots from three-point land. 

Bluffton converted 10 of 18 free throws (56 percent).

P-G sank 10 field goals, making seven two-pointers and three triples. The Rockets converted four of 10 foul shots (40 percent).

Bluffton 59 (10-5)

Mehaffie 1 0-0 2, Eachus 3 0-0 8, Giesige 1 1-2 3, Scoles 7 5-7 20, Schaadt 1 0-0 2, Grandey 8 3-4 19, Fleece 0, Utendorf 2 1-4 5. 

Totals: 20-3/10-18/59. 3-pointers: Eachus 2, Scoles 1.

P-G 27 (1-12) 

Rutschilling 1 0-0 2, Ferguson 1 0-0 3, Huffman 2 4-6 9, Diller 2 0-0 4, Knueven 1 0-2 3, Draper 2 0-0 4, Wise 1 0-2 2. 

Totals 7-3/4-10/27. 3-pointers: Ferguson 1, Huffman 1, Knueven 1.

1 2 3 4 F

P-G 11 7 4 5 27

Bluf 23 10 16 10 59

The Pirates entertain Defiance (1-11) Tuesday, January 17. Bluffton (1-3 NWC) then visits league foe Lincolnview (7-8, 1-3 NWC) Thursday, Jan. 19.