By Cort Reynolds

FINDLAY__The visiting Bluffton boys basketball team defeated non-league foe Liberty-Benton 63-56 Saturday, January 20, to extend their win streak to 10 games.

Bluffton improved to 12-1 after the victory. The Eagles fell to 9-5 with the defeat. 

The Pirates led 19-13 after the first period. Wade Ginther scored eight points in the opening stanza, while Blake Sommers drilled a pair of triples.

Eagle Carson Conaway netted nine of his 19 points in the first period to keep L-B close.

A 23-point second stanza Bluffton outburst extended the lead to 42-29 at halftime. Ginther and Brody Sommers each netted six points in the second period.

Bluffton maintained a 54-42 lead heading to the final quarter as Blake Sommers canned three two-pointers in the third stanza.  

L-B rallied late with a 14-9 fourth period run. Conaway sank three baskets and Brody Thomas drained a pair of triples down the stretch for the Eagles, but it was too little, too late.

Ginther led the Pirates with 19 points. Blake Sommers contributed 14 points, and Kerry Wright scored a season-high 11 markers.

Brody Sommers netted seven points, while Terron Boblitt and Landen Worcester added six apiece.

Conaway led the Eagles with 19 points to tie Ginther for game-high honors. Thomas contributed 14 markers.

Bluffton connected on 21 two-pointers and splashed four triples in the win. The Pirates converted nine of 14 from the free throw line (64 percent).

L-B canned 17 two-point goals, and drained six triples. The Eagles converted four of eight tries from the charity stripe (50 percent). 

Bluffton committed 11 turnovers, compared to seven miscues by the Eagles.

The first-place Pirates (4-0 NWC) resume league play at Lincolnview (4-9, 0-3 NWC) Friday, Jan. 26.   

Spencerville is second in the Northwest Conference standings at 3-0, followed by Allen East (2-1). Bluffton hosts the Bearcats (10-3) February 2 in what looms as a showdown for first place in the league.

Bluffton is 6-1 at home this season, and 6-0 on the road.

The lone Pirate defeat was a 45-40 defeat at home to WBL power Ottawa-Glandorf (12-2) on December 8.

Bluffton 63 (12-1)
Donaldson DNP,
B. Ginther 0 0-0 0,
W. Ginther 7 5-7 19,
Blk. Sommers 6 0-2 14,
Bro. Sommers 3 1-2 7,
Boblitt 2 0-0 6,
Hilty 0 0-0 0,
Worcester 3 0-0 6,
Ker. Wright 4 3-3 11,
Yoder DNP,
Hohenbrink DNP,
Ka. Wright DNP.

Totals: 21-4/9-14/63. 3-pointers: Blk. Sommers 2, Boblitt 2. 

L-B 56 (9-5)
Hochstetter 3 2-2 9,
Conaway 9 0-0 19,
B. Thomas 5 0-1 14,
Gerkin 3 2-2
8, Holler 2 0-1 4,
Elchart 1 0-2 2.

Totals: 17-6/4-8/56. 3-pointers: B. Thomas 4, Hochstetter 1, Conaway 1.