By Cort Reynolds

CONVOY__The visiting Bluffton High School boys basketball team was edged 45-42 by Northwest Conference rival Crestview on Friday, January 9.

The Knights led 16-12 following the first quarter. After a defensive 5-4 second stanza, the Pirates had inched within 20-17 by the end of the first half.    

A 16-13 Bluffton third quarter knotted the game up 33-33 going into the final stanza. The Knights won the fourth quarter 12-9 to pull the game out by three. 
 

Knights Will Sheets and Hayden Perrott combined to score 10 clutch Crestview points over the final eight minutes.  

The Pirates fell to 3-7 overall and 0-2 in the NWC after the close road defeat. Crestview improved to 7-5 overall and 1-2 in NWC play with the win.

Bluffton freshman guard Brody Donley led the Pirates with 13 points as he buried three triples. Beau Ginther tallied a dozen markers, and Robby Taylor netted 11 points behind three treys.

Sheets led the Knights with 16 points, while Perrott added 14. 

The Pirates connected on eight two-point goals and drilled seven triples. Bluffton converted five shots at the charity stripe. 

Crestview sank 18 deuces, knocked down just one trifecta and canned six foul shots.

Bluffton 42
Donley 5-0–13, Ginther 4-3–12, Taylor 4-0–11, Wright 2-2–6.  TOTALS: 8-7/5/42. 3-pointers: Donley 3, Taylor 3, Ginther 1.

Crestview 45
Sheets 8-0–16, Perrott 4-6–14, Heckler 3-0–6, Hammans 2-0–5, Putman 2-0–4. TOTALS: 18-1/6/45. 3-pointers: Hammans 1.

UP NEXT
On Saturday, Jan. 10 the Pirates play at Carey (3-5) in a 5 p.m. tip-off. The Blue Devils crushed New Washington Buckeye Central 59-25 Friday night. Carey’s Kyler Boes led all scorers with 14 points. Devil Chase Stone contributed 11 points and 10 rebounds.