By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON __ In the championship game of the 2024 McDonald’s Holiday Classic tournament, the Bluffton High School girls basketball team were dominated for three quarters by Allen East, fought back to come within 4, but lost 40-28 on Saturday, November 23.

Bluffton dropped to 1-1 after the loss, while AE improved to 2-0 with the victory. It was the second straight tournament championship game win for the Mustang girls over the rival Pirates.

AE senior guard Rilynn Jones tallied 23 points in the title game by sinking 15 of 17 free throws and four baskets. Jones was named tournament MVP after scoring 46 points in their two wins.

The Mustangs led the Pirates 12-4 after the first quarter. The visitors stretched the margin slightly to 21-12 at halftime and maintained a 32-21 lead after three quarters. 

The scrappy Pirates inched within four points at 32-28 with a 7-0 run to start the final stanza. But the Mustangs responded to the spurt by scoring the last eight points, mostly at the foul line, to win by 12.

Pirate senior post Ayla Grandey led the runner-up hosts with 10 points, five of which came in the second stanza. Maelee Miller netted four of her  six markers in the first quarter.

Bluffton canned eight two-point goals and hit three trifectas. The Pirates sank three of four (75 percent) foul shots.

AE made seven two-pointers and drained three triples. They converted 17 of 24 shots (71 percent) at the charity stripe to outscore the hosts by 14 from the foul line.

1 2 3 4 F

AE 12 9 11 8 40

Bluf 4 8 9 7 28

Pirates Ayla Grandey and Maelee Miller were voted all-tournament. 

Jones was joined on the all-tournament team by Mustang teammates Evelyn Lehman and Taylor Nickles. 

Jada Smith and McVetta rounded out the six-player all-tournament squad. Arlington’s Smith tallied 25 points in their two games. 

Arlington beat Cory-Rawson in the third-place contest Saturday, 53-41. Jada Smith scored 14 points for the Red Devils (1-1), while Morgan McVetta led C-R (0-2) with 11 markers.

Bluffton looks to get back on the winning track when they host non-league foe Ben Logan (0-0) Wednesday, November 27. The JV game tips off at 5:30 p.m.