By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON__The Bluffton High School boys basketball team was seeded fifth at the extremely tough 12-team Northwest Div. III sectional draw, which feeds into the Lima Senior district, on February 11.

Nine of the 12 teams in the exceptionally deep sectional field boast records over .500. Four local conference leaders and two second-place league teams comprise half of the strong field.

Authors of a 12-game win streak earlier this season, the 15-4 Pirates will host eighth-seeded league foe Columbus Grove (11-8) Tuesday, February 27 at 7 p.m.

Grove upset the visiting Pirates 47-35 last weekend, so Bluffton will get a chance to avenge that loss at home.

The winner gets to visit third seed Wayne Trace (15-3) Friday, March 1 at 7 p.m. in the second round. WT is first in the Green Meadows Conference at 6-0. That second-round survivor will advance to the Lima Senior district semifinals March 6.

Western Buckeye League leader Ottawa-Glandorf (16-2) earned the top seed.

Allen East (10-8) was seeded ninth and will host 11th-seeded Riverdale (6-13) Feb. 27. The winner goes on the road to face second seed Northwest Conference leader Spencerville (15-4, 6-0 NWC) March 1.

Midwest Athletic Conference co-leader Coldwater (16-3, 7-0 MAC) was seeded fourth in the loaded sectional. 

Liberty-Benton, who is tied for second in the BVC at 6-1 and is 12-6 overall, could muster only a seven seed. The Eagles visit sixth seed Carey (11-7) Feb. 27.

The highly-anticipated district finals are at Lima Senior Saturday, March 9 at 6 p.m.