By Cort Reynolds

HARROD - The visiting Bluffton High School boys basketball team broke away late to beat local Northwest Conference rival Allen East 54-45 on February 14 in the league finale.

The Pirates improved to 14-7 overall and finished 3-4 in the NWC play after the big win. Columbus Grove and Spencerville shared the league title at 6-1. Bluffton came in fifth in the eight-team standings.

Allen East fell to 10-11 overall and ended up 2-5 in NWC action after the loss. Crestview and LCC tied for third in the league at 5-2.

The Pirates led 19-13 after the first period. AE pulled within 30-28 at halftime with a 15-11 second stanza.

Both teams tallied 10 points in the third period to keep the Pirates narrowly in front 40-38 heading into the final quarter. 

But the Pirates hit seven of 10 free throws in the fourth period as they outscored AE 14-7 to pull away late and win a close rivalry game.

Bean Ginther and Kain Wright tallied 13 points apiece to pace the Pirates. 

Blake Sommers contributed seven points. Marek Donaldson and Carter Hohenbrink each added six markers.

Brody Sommers chipped in with five points, and Terron Boblitt added four.

Logan Helser led AE with 17 points. He scored seven of his points in the big blue and white second stanza. No other Mustang tallied more than six points. Hunter Williams netted six on two treys.

Bluffton canned 13 two-point goals and nailed six triples. The Pirates converted 10 of 14 free throws (71 percent).
AE sank 12 two-pointers and drained six trifectas. The Mustangs converted  just three of eight foul shots (38 percent). 

Bluffton hosts tough Maumee Valley Country Day (13-7) in a makeup game Saturday, Feb. 15 afternoon on Senior Day to finish the regular season.