By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON__The Bluffton High School girls basketball team lost to visiting Northwest Conference foe Crestview 51-44 on Thursday, January 8.

The Pirate girls dropped to 8-6 overall and 1-1 in NWC play after the home defeat. 

Crestview improved to 6-7 overall and 2-2 in the NWC with the road upset win. 

Other than the second quarter, Bluffton was outscored only 37-35.  

The Knight girls held a slim 9-8 lead after the first period. A 14-9 Crestview second stanza gave the visitors a little breathing room as they inched ahead 23-17 at intermission.  

Bluffton ate into the deficit slightly behind a 15-13 third quarter as seven Pirates scored in the stanza. But Crestview sank nine of 10 foul shots in the final period to win it 15-12 and keep the Pirates at bay. 

Pirate sophomore guard Maelee Miller netted seven points in each half to lead Bluffton with 14 points. It was the third game in a row where she led the team in scoring.

Senior Macy Schaadt nailed two triples and netted 10 points. Five of her points came in the opening period, and she added a three-pointer in the fourth quarter.

Bluffton senior Blair Utendorf contributed six of her nine markers in the second half. Junior Greta Myers added four markers.

Bluffton connected on 14 deuces and splashed three triples. The Pirates converted seven of 13 free throws (54 percent).

Junior guard Kaci Gregory and senior center Haley McCoy led the Knights with 15 points apiece. Gregory made all six of her foul shots in the second half.

The Knights canned 13 two-point goals and drained three treys. Crestview sank 16 of 18 free throws (89 percent).

Spencerville leads the NWC at 4-0, followed by Columbus Grove at 3-0. 

The Pirate girls visit rugged former NWC foe Paulding (9-1) Saturday, Jan. 10. The Panthers whipped visiting Crestview 48-33 this past Tuesday night. Addi Pease, Anya Mead, Kayleigh Dunham and Tori Schlatter each scored 10 points to pace a balanced Panther attack.

1 2 3 4 F

Bluf 8 9 15 12 44

Cvw 9 14 13 15 51