By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON – The Bluffton High School boys basketball team broke away from a tie with a big final period to defeat visiting Western Buckeye League foe Elida 73-66 in a non-league home game on Tuesday, February 13.

The back-and-forth game was tied 47-47 heading to the final period. 

Brody Sommers scored all nine of his points in the fourth quarter, while Terron Boblitt netted seven, to lead the Pirate boys to a decisive 26-19 edge over the last eight minutes.

The Pirates led 21-13 after the first period as Marek Donaldson scored six early points. Elida rallied within 33-30 at halftime as Zori Island scored 10 second stanza points. 

A 17-14 Bulldog third quarter pulled the visitors into a tie. Bulldog Island poured in 12 of his game-high 24 points in the fourth quarter to spearhead a valiant comeback effort that came up short.

Donaldson topped three Pirates in doubles figures with 17 points and three triples.

Bluffton southpaw Blake Sommers contributed 15 points behind four treys. Landen Worcester added 11 markers.

Bluffton improved to 16-4 with the victory. Meanwhile, Elida fell to 13-6  after the defeat.

Wade Ginther and Brody Sommers netted nine points apiece.

Island made all five of his foul shot attempts in the fourth period, sank two deuces and made one trifecta.

Bluffton connected on 21 two-point goals and drilled eight triples. The Pirates converted seven of 12 shots from the free throw line (58 percent).

Elida canned 20 two-pointers, and splashed six triples. The Bulldogs converted eight of their nine tries from the charity stripe to shoot 89 percent at the foul line. 

Bluffton improved to 7-3 at home this season, and is 9-1 on the road.

The Pirates (5-2 NWC) resume league play at home vs. backyard rival Allen East (10-8, 4-2 NWC) Friday, Feb. 16. Bluffton is second in the league behind 6-0 Spencerville, while AE is tied for third with Crestview.

Bluffton 73 (16-4)

Donaldson 7 0-0 17,
Ker. Wright 1 0-0 2,
B. Ginther 0 0-0 0,
W. Ginther 4 1-2 9,
Blk. Sommers 5 1-2 15,
Bro. Sommers 4 1-1 9,
Boblitt 2 2-2 7,
Hilty 0 0-0 0,
Worcester 5 1-2 11,
Yoder 1 1-1 3,
Hohenbrink 0 0-0 0,
Ka. Wright 0 0-0 0.

Totals: 21-8/7-12/73. 3-pointers: Bl. Sommers 4, Donaldson 3, Boblitt 1.

Elida 66 (13-6)

Island 8 6-6 24,
Crim 4 1-2 9,
Waugh 5 0-0 11,
Covault 5 0-0 11,
Jackson 1 0-0 2,
Etzkorn 3 1-1 9.

Totals: 20-6/8-9/66. 3-pointers:  Island 2, Etzkorn 2, Covault 1, Waugh 1.

1 2 3 4 F

Bluf 21 12 14 26 73

Elida 13 17 17 19 66