By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON – The Bluffton High School girls basketball team lost a defensive battle 40-32 to visiting non-conference foe Paulding on January 11.

Bluffton fell to 8-6 overall after suffering their second defeat in three days. Paulding improved to 11-2 with the road win.

The Pirates led 6-5 after a low-scoring opening quarter. 

But Paulding took control with a 14-6 second stanza to forge ahead 19-12 at halftime. Panther Tori Schlatter drained two triples and a two-pointer to tally eight points in the momentum-changing second period.

Bluffton rebounded to take the third quarter 12-9 and inch within 28-24 heading into the final period. But the Panthers captured the fourth stanza 12-8 to win by eight.

Junior Blair Utendorf led the Pirates with eight points on four baskets. Pirate senior post Ayla Grandey contributed seven markers.

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Macy Schaadt tallied five markers, and freshman Maelee Miller added four. 

Panther sophomore Schlatter led all scorers with 16 points, including six in the fourth period. Addi Pease added 11 markers with three trifectas. Pease nailed two treys in the key second period.

Bluffton connected on a dozen deuces and canned just one trey. The Pirates converted five of nine free throws (56 percent).Paulding canned just five two-point goals but splashed six triples. The Panthers sank 12 of 16 foul shots (75 percent). 

BLUFF

The Pirate girls visit Elida (9-6) Tuesday, January 14. The Bulldog girls beat Botkins 47-34 Saturday.