By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON – The hot-shooting Bluffton boys basketball team pulled away late to defeat visiting non-conference foe Maumee Valley Country Day 81-71 to celebrate Senior Day well on February 15.

The Pirates outscored the Hawks 23-13 in the final quarter to break away from a 58-58 tie and win. Marek Donaldson poured in 16 fourth period points, including four triples, to lead the comeback victory.

The game was postponed from the previous Saturday due to icy roads, and switched to playing MVCD instead of Liberty Center.

Senior guard Donaldson surpassed the 1,000-point barrier by scoring 21 points in his final regular season home game.

The Pirates improved to 15-7 with their third straight victory in five days. Bluffton splashed 14 three-pointers to outscore the Hawks 42-15 from beyond the arc.

MVCD fell to 13-8 after the defeat.

The Pirates trailed 23-20 after a high-scoring first period. Terron Boblitt scored seven points, and Blake Sommers canned two treys in the opening stanza.

MVCD led 44-39 at halftime despite Bean Ginther scoring all six of his points in the second period. 

Sommers scored eight markers and Kain Wright tallied seven in the third period as Bluffton won the quarter 19-14 to tie it up heading into the final quarter. 

Donaldson then heated up as the Pirates won the fourth period and the game by 10.  

Bluffton outscored the Hawks 42-27 after intermission.

Sommers netted 24 points behind six trifectas and nine total baskets. Wright scored 18 points, while Boblitt added 10 markers. Donaldson canned five treys in the three-point Pirate onslaught.

Hawk sophomore guard Keeran Stokes scored a game-high 29 points.

Bluffton canned 12 two-point goals and buried 14 triples. The hot-shooting Pirates converted 14 of 15 free throws (93 percent).
MVCD sank 25 two-pointers and drilled five trifectas. The Hawks converted six of eight foul shots (75 percent).

Donaldson, Brody and Blake Sommers, Carter Hohenbrink, Boblitt and Landen Worcester were recognized on Senior Day.

Bluffton hosts Wayne Trace (12-9) in the sectional finals Friday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m.