By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON – The Bluffton High School girls basketball team rode a 22-0 second quarter to dominate Northwest Conference foe Lima Central Catholic 58-22 on Senior Night, January 16.

Bluffton improved to 9-7 overall and 1-2 in the NWC with the lopsided win. LCC fell to 2-11 overall and 0-5 in the NWC with the road defeat.

Pirate senior post Ayla Grandey led all players with 22 points as she equaled the LCC output herself. Grandey sank six deuces, nailed two triples and canned four of six foul shots.

Freshman Maelee Miller tallied 15 points on five two-pointers, a trey and a pair of free throws.   

The Pirates led 14-7 after the opening quarter and then broke the game wide open. Bluffton authored a 22-0 second stanza to build a commanding 36-7 cushion at halftime.  

Grandey splashed two triples and scored eight points in the decisive second quarter. Miller added six markers on three baskets in the period.

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Bluffton won the anticlimactic second half, 22-15.   

Two players led LCC with just six points apiece.

Bluffton canned 18 deuces and drilled four treys. The Pirates converted 10 of 17 free throws (59 percent).

LCC connected on six two-point goals and sank three triples. The Thunderbirds canned one of two foul shots (50 percent). 

Bluffton hosts tough Toledo Start (12-1) on Saturday, January 18 at noon. Start is first in the Toledo City League at 6-0.

The Pirates visit league foe 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.