By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON__Columbus Grove’s Lauryn Auchmuty drained nine of her record 10 three-point field goals in the first half to lead the Bulldogs to a 52-19 win over the Bluffton girls basketball team in a Northwest Conference matchup on February 8.

Auchmuty splashed three triples in the opening stanza and scored 13 points to pace CG to an early 20-3 lead.

The 5-7 junior guard got even hotter in the second stanza as she nailed six more trifectas for 18 points and 31 markers by intermission. A 24-6 quarter gave Grove a commanding 44-9 halftime bulge.

Auchmuty didn’t play in the fourth period, but she added one final trey in the third period to finish with 34 points. Her 10 triples are a Columbus Grove single-game record, and the most ever by a Putnam County League player.

The Pirates managed to outscore CG 10-8 after halftime. 

“It was a really tough night,” said Pirate head coach Adam Burris “I think on eight of her 10 three’s, we had a hand in her (Auchmuty’s) face. Sometimes it is just somebody’s night, and tonight was her night.”

The Pirate girls fell to 7-14 overall and 1-6 in the NWC after suffering their sixth loss in a row. Meanwhile, the Bulldog girls improved to 16-4 and stayed tied atop the NWC at 6-1 with the one-sided victory.

Grove is in a three-way knot for first in the NWC standings with Crestview and Delphos Jefferson at 6-1, with one league game remaining for each team next week. 

CG visits fellow co-leader Jefferson (16-3) next Thursday in a crucial showdown for at least a piece of the league crown. Meanwhile, Crestview (18-2) hosts solid arch-rival Lincolnview (12-9, 4-3 NWC) Feb. 15.

Thus a two-way tie for the NWC championship is the most likely outcome, unless the Lancers pull off a major road upset.

Vanessa Cross led Bluffton with five points vs. Grove. Ayla Grandey, Blair Utendorf and Lauen Bassett added four markers apiece.

The Pirates canned six two-point goals and drained a pair of treys. Bluffton converted one of three free throw tries (33 percent).

CG nailed just six deuces but drained a dozen trifectas. Grove converted four of five foul shots (80 percent). They outscored Bluffton 36-6 from beyond the arc behind Auchmuty’s record outburst.

Bluffton finishes its league and regular season at local rival Allen East (17-2, 5-2 NWC) Thursday, February 15. 

The white-hot Mustangs have won nine in a row and defeated Bluffton in the annual Pirate Holiday tournament finals back on November 24, 55-37.

“It’s going to be a tall task,” said Burris of the AE game. “They are 17-2 and just beat Spencerville by 31 Thursday (55-24). 

“We will have to limit our turnovers and slow the pace of the game down to our speed.”

Grove 52 (16-4, 6-1 NWC)

Auchmuty 11 2-2 34,
Fortman 1 0-0 3,
Siefker 1 0-0 3,
Verhoff 1 0-0 2,
Palte 1 0-0 2,
Nesby 3 2-3 8.
Totals: 6-12/4-5/52. 3-pointers: Auchmuty 10, Fotman 1, Siefker 1.

Bluffton 19 (7-14, 1-6 NWC)

Burkholder 0 0-0 0,
Hobensack 0 0-0 0,
Cross 2 0-0 5,
Fleece 0 0-0 0,
Dearth 0 0-0 0,
Schweingruber 0 0-0 0,
Warren 1 0-0 2,
Schaadt 0 0-0 0,
Utendorf 2 0-1 4,
Bassett 2 0-0 4,
Grandey 1 1-2 4.

Totals: 6-2/1-3/19. 3-pointers: Grandey 1, Cross 1.