By Cort Reynolds

The Bluffton High School boys basketball team romped over the visiting Elmwood Royals 86-46 in the season opener behind a huge second half Friday night, December 1.

The Pirates tipped off their season on time despite their long football playoff run of four games that ended just two weeks ago. 

Junior guard Marek Donaldson drained five of the team’s eight triples and scored a game-high 22 points to pace the victors.

Blake Sommers netted 13 of his 19 points in the first half as the Pirates built a 40-29 lead. The Pirates led only 17-14 after the first period before catching fire.

Donaldson hit three triples and scored 13 of the 25 Bluffton points in the third stanza as they built their lead to 29 points at 65-36.

Bluffton outscored the Royals 25-7 in the third period to blow the game wide open. The hosts won the second half convincingly, 46-17.

Pirate Wade Ginther tallied a dozen markers, and Landen Worcester added eight. Kerry Wright and John-Paul Yoder each added five markers as 12 players scored for Bluffton. 

Royal senior Kade Lentz led Elmwood with 17 points, and junior Evan Barringer added 10 markers.

Bluffton canned 21 deuces and drained eight trifectas. The Pirates converted 20 of 25 free throws (80 percent).

The visitors sank 15 two-point goals and hit three triples. They canned seven of 13 free throws (54 percent).

Bluffton committed 14 turnovers, while the visitors made 16 miscues.

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The Pirates visit Western Buckeye League foe Kenton (1-0) Saturday evening. 

The Wildcats beat Ben Logan 57-36 in their opener Friday night as Ethan Yoder scored 22 points. BL has lost 27 games in a row.