Pirate boys basketball grounded by Rockets 

By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON__The Bluffton High School boys basketball team suffered through two cold quarters and lost 60-42 to visiting non-conference rival Pandora-Gilboa on Saturday, February 3.

The Pirates lost for the second time in as many nights after having their 12-game win streak broken Friday.

Bluffton fell to 14-3 with the loss, while P-G improved to 14-2 after the win.

The Pirates were outscored by a 30-7 total in the second and fourth quarters. Bluffton won the combined first and third stanzas, 35-30.

The Pirates led 16-11 after the first period but scored just two points in the second stanza to fall behind 21-18 at intermission.  

Bluffton stayed within 40-37 after three quarters of play. But then P-G authored a 20-5 fourth period and won going away by 18.

Blake Sommers paced the Pirates with a dozen points and two triples. Marek Donaldson contributed 10 points with a pair of treys. Kerry Wright added seven markers.

Colin Harris led four Rockets in double figures with 16 points. He tallied 14 of his points in the second half.

Aidan Morris scored eight of his 14 points in the decisive fourth stanza. Aiden Harris tallied 13, and Nate Maag added a dozen markers.

Bluffton connected on 12 two-point goals and splashed five triples in the game. The Pirates converted three of five shots from the free throw line (60 percent).

P-G canned 15 two-pointers, and drilled six triples. The Rockets converted 12 of their 13 tries from the charity stripe (92 percent). 

Bluffton is 6-2 at home this season, and 8-0 on the road.

The Pirates (5-1 NWC) play at league rival Columbus Grove (9-7, 2-3 NWC) next Friday. 

Bluffton 42 (14-3)

Donaldson 4 0-0 10,
B. Ginther 1 0-0 2
W. Ginther 3 0-2 6,
Blk. Sommers 5 0-0 12,
Bro. Sommers 0 2-2 2,
Boblitt 1 0-0 3, Hilty 0 0-0 0,
Worcester 0 0-0 0,
Ker. Wright 3 1-1 7,
Yoder 0 0-0 0,
Hohenbrink 0 0-0 0,
Ka. Wright 0 0-0 0.

Totals: 12-5/3-5/42. 3-pointers: Blk. Sommers 2, Donaldson 2, Boblitt 1. 

P-G 60 (15-2)

C. Harris 7 1-2 16,
A. Harris 3 7-7 13,
Morris 5 2-2 14,
Liechty 1 2-2 5,
N. Maag 5 0-0 12.

Totals: 15-6/12-13/60. 3-pointers: Morris 2, Maag 2, C. Harris 1.

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