By Cort Reynolds

LIMA – The Bluffton High School boys basketball team used a big fourth period to pull away and defeat Linden-McKinley STEM Academy (Columbus) 62-45 in the opener of the Kewpee Holiday Classic doubleheader at Lima Senior on Saturday, December 21.

The Pirates improved to 5-0 with the victory. Bluffton has won its four games by a combined total of 165 points (33 ppg).

Linden-McKinley fell to 0-5 after the defeat.

The Pirates led 17-11 after the first quarter, and held a 31-26 advantage at halftime. The Pirates led 42-34 heading to the final quarter.

Bluffton outscored L-M 31-19 after intermission, including 20-11 in the fourth period, to win by 17.

Senior Blake Sommers tallied 21 points to pace the victors. He scored 12 points in the first half, including seven in the opening stanza.

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Junior Kain Wright netted 14 markers on seven baskets. Senior guard Marek Donaldson scored nine of his 11 points in the second half. Senior Bean Ginther added eight markers.

Mo Curry led the Panthers with 15 points, while Manny Towns added 11 markers.

Bluffton canned 21 two-pointers and splashed three trifectas. The Pirates converted 11 of 13 free throws (85 percent).

 Linden-McKinley connected on 16 deuces and drilled a pair of triples. The Panthers converted seven of 12 foul shots (58 percent).

Unbeaten Spencerville (7-0) trounced Ottawa-Glandorf in the Kewpee twinbill nightcap, 56-35.
Bluffton will host Emmanuel Christian in the second semifinal of their annual McDonald’s Holiday tournament Friday night, Dec. 27. The finals and third-place games are Saturday night, Dec. 28.

Arlington (7-0) faces Wayne Trace (4-2) in the first semifinal Dec. 27 at 6 p.m.

    1     2     3     4     F
Blu 17 14 11 20 62    
L-M 11 15 8 11 45