By Cort Reynolds
COLUMBUS GROVE__The visiting Bluffton High School boys basketball team lost 47-35 at Northwest Conference rival Columbus Grove on Friday, February 9.
Grove outscored the Pirates 16-8 in the fourth quarter to pull away from a close battle and win.
The Pirates have lost three in a row after having a 12 -game win streak snapped.
Trenton Barraza scored seven of his game-high 17 points in the first period to help CG build an early 13-9 lead. Bluffton inched within 19-17 at halftime of the low-scoring game.
Wade Ginther scored six points in the third period to keep Bluffton within 31-27 heading to the final stanza.
Bulldog Zach Reynolds netted seven of his nine points in the fourth quarter, while Barraza added six markers.
Bluffton fell to 14-4 overall and 5-2 in the NWC with the defeat. Meanwhile, CG improved to 10-8 and 3-3 in the NWC after the win.
Ginther led the Pirates with 14 points, while Blake Sommers tallied 10.
Reynolds added nine markers for CG.
Bluffton connected on 13 two-point goals but made just one triple in the game. The Pirates converted six of 11 shots from the free throw line (55 percent).
CG canned 14 two-pointers, and drained five triples. The Bulldogs converted four of their six tries from the charity stripe (67 percent).
Bluffton is 6-3 at home this season, and 8-1 on the road.
The Pirates play at non-league foe Riverdale (5-12) Saturday night.
Bluffton 36 (14-4, 5-2 NWC)
Donaldson 1 0-0 3, Ker. Wright 1 2-2 4, B. Ginther 0 0-0 0, W. Ginther 6 2-2 14, Blk. Sommers 5 0-2 10, Bro. Sommers 1 0-0 2, Boblitt 0 0-0 0, Hilty 0 0-0 0, Worcester 0 2-2 2, Yoder 0 0-0 0, Hohenbrink 0 0-0 0, Ka. Wright 0 0-0 0.
Totals: 13-1/6-11/35. 3-pointers: Donaldson 1.
CG 47 (10-8, 3-3 NWC)
Birnesser 1 0-0 2, Z. Reynolds 3 2-2 9, Barraza 8 0-0 17, E. Sautter 1 0-0 3, Mayes 1 0-0 2, Best 2 1-2 7, Hopkins 3 1-2 7.
Totals: 14-5/4-6/47. 3-pointers: Best 2, Reynolds 1, Barraza 1, Sautter 1.
1 2 3 4 F
Bluf 9 8 10 8 35
CG 13 6 12 16 47
