By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON__Playing for a capacity crowd, the Bluffton High School boys basketball team lost 70-59 to visiting league rival Columbus Grove in Div. III sectional first round action Tuesday, February 27.

The game was tied 13-13 after the first period. But a big 24-point second stanza lifted CG to a 37-30 halftime lead. Bulldog Trenton Barraza poured in 11 points in the key second period, and Bo Birnesser tallied nine.

Bluffton inched within 50-46 after three quarters as Brody Sommers scored six points, and Terron Boblitt added five. 

Pirate junior Landen Worcester notched eight of his team-high 16 points in the final stanza.

But Grove’s Kyle Hopkins netted 11 points in the fourth quarter, while Barraza added eight, to score 19 of the 20 CG points in the finishing stanza. Grove won the fourth period, 20-13.

Both teams sank seven of nine free throws in the final quarter.

Bulldog Hopkins tallied 20 of his 25 points in the second half. Barraza also scored 25 points to share game-high scoring honors.

Boblitt contributed 13 points and three treys for the Pirates. Marek Donaldson scored eight points. Sommers and John-Paul Yoder added seven markers apiece.

Bluffton finished its season 17-6 with the defeat. 

Meanwhile, CG improved to 14-9 after the road win. The Bulldogs advance to play Green Meadows Conference champion Wayne Trace (16-5) in the sectional finals Friday.

Grove previously defeated Bluffton 47-36 at CG Feb. 9, another 11-point margin of victory. 

Bluffton connected on 14 two-point goals and drilled six triples. The Pirates converted 13 of 16 shots from the free throw line (81 percent).

CG canned 24 two-pointers, and drained four triples. The Bulldogs converted 10 of 13 tries from the charity stripe (77 percent). 

Bluffton finished 8-5 at home this season. The Pirates lost five of their last eight games after a 14-1 start, which was capped by a 12-game win streak.

It was the last game for Pirate seniors Wade Ginther, Kerry Wright and Yoder. 

Bluffton 59 (17-6)

Donaldson 2 3-4 8, Ker. Wright 1 0-0 3, B. Ginther 1 2-2 5, W. Ginther 0 0-0 0, Blk. Sommers 0 0-0 0, Bro. Sommers 2 3-4 7, Boblitt 5 0-0 13, Hilty 0 0-0 0, Worcester 6 4-5 16, Yoder 3 1-1 7, Hohenbrink 0 0-0 0, Ka. Wright 0 0-0 0.

Totals: 14-6/13-16/59. 3-pointers: Boblitt 3, Donaldson 1, B. Ginther 1, Ke. Wright 1.

CG 70 (14-9)

Birnesser 5 1-2 12, Z. Reynolds 1 0-0 2, Barraza 10 4-5 25, E. Sautter 1 0-0 2, Mayes 1 0-0 2, Best 1 0-0 2, Hopkins 9 5-6 25.

Totals: 24-4/10-13/70. 3-pointers: Hopkins 2, Barraza 1, Birnesser 1.

1 2 3 4 F

Bluf 13 17 16 13 59

CG 13 24 13 20 70