By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON – The Bluffton High School boys basketball team lost in overtime 65-60 to visiting non-conference power Liberty-Benton on January 18.

The Pirates dropped to 9-4 overall with the tough home defeat. 

L-B improved to 13-1 overall after the hard-fought road win, their sixth victory in a row. The lone Eagle loss was to Div. I Perrysburg by a 69-62 count on December 28.

Bluffton trailed 13-10 after the first period. L-B maintained a 29-22 margin at halftime as Jake Gerken scored 13 points.

A 15-12 Pirate third quarter shrank the deficit to 41-37 heading into the fourth period. Guard Marek Donaldson sank two triples and two foul shots in the third stanza.

Kain Wright tallied seven points in the fourth period to help Bluffton tie it up 57-57 at the end of regulation.

Gerken sank six of six foul shots in the final quarter, and Holler nailed two treys. In OT, Lincoln Holler added four markers and Gerken three.  

Donaldson led Bluffton with 16 points. He hit four baskets, including two treys, and sank all six foul shots. Blake Sommers tallied 15 markers on five baskets and five foul shots. 

Wright scored 13 points, with nine coming in the final 12 minutes. Terron Boblitt added eight points. 

The 6-7 Gerken led L-B with 24 points. Holler netted 20 markers, and 6-8 Tyler Grose added 13.

Bluffton connected on 17 two-point goals and drilled three triples. The Pirates converted 17 of 20 free throws (85 percent).

L-B also canned 17 two-pointers and drained six trifectas. The Eagles canned 13 of 17 foul shots (76 percent).  

The Pirates play at Elmwood (2-8) Tuesday, January 21. Bluffton (1-2 NWC) then resumes league play at home vs. Lincolnview (4-9, 0-3 NWC) Friday, Jan. 24.