By Cort Reynolds

ELIDA – The visiting Bluffton High School girls basketball team led at the half, but a bad third period doomed the Pirates to a 47-41 defeat at non-conference foe Elida Tuesday, January 14.

Bluffton fell to 8-7 overall after suffering their third straight tough loss. Elida improved to 10-6 with the home win.

The Pirates led 12-9 after the opening quarter. Bluffton also scored 12 points in the second stanza to build a 24-19 edge at halftime.  

But Elida turned the tables with a 17-5 third quarter to seize a 36-29 advantage heading into the final period. Bluffton captured the fourth stanza 12-11, but came up short by six.

Pirate senior post Ayla Grandey scored 13 points on four baskets and five foul shots. 

Junior Blair Utendorf and Macy Schaadt tallied nine points apiece. Freshman Maelee Miller added six markers. 

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Elida’s Livy Sanders scored nine of her 14 points in the final stanza. Lilly Sifrit netted eight of her dozen markers in the decisive third stanza. Emma Mitchell nailed two treys in the third period as she tallied 12 markers.

Bluffton connected on 13 deuces and canned two treys. The Pirates converted nine of 15 free throws (60 percent).

Elida canned 11 two-point goals and drained five triples. The Bulldogs sank 10 of 19 foul shots (53 percent). 

The Pirate girls (0-2 NWC) seek their first Northwest Conference victory when they entertain struggling LCC (2-10, 0-4 NWC) on Senior Night Thursday, January 16. 

The Pirates visit Lincolnview (9-6, 2-1 NWC) Thursday, January 23.

Bluffton then hosts local league rival Allen East (11-2, 1-1 NWC) Tuesday, Jan. 28.