By Cort Reynolds

LIMA__The visiting Bluffton High School girls basketball team raced to a huge early lead and cruised to a 52-11 win over Lima Central Catholic in a Northwest Conference mismatch on Thursday, January 15.

Junior Greta Myers poured in 10 first-period points behind a pair of three-pointers to pace the Pirates to a 15-3 lead.

Bluffton shut out LCC in the second stanza and scored 15 more points to build a commanding 30-3 margin at halftime.  

The Pirates scored 15 points again in the third period to forge a 45-9 cushion after three quarters. 

A 7-2 fourth stanza finished the most lopsided Bluffton win of the season.

The Pirate girls improved to 9-8 overall and 2-1 in the NWC after the road blowout victory. 

The Thunderbirds dropped to 2-12 overall and 0-5 in NWC play with the  loss.

Myers netted 15 points with two triples to lead the Pirates. 

Sophomore guard Maelee Miller tallied 14 points, including a triple in the first period. She scored six markers in the third stanza.

Senior Blair Utendorf netted six points, while Lauren Dearth added five markers.

Taylin Goldman netted four points. Senior Macy Schaadt and Camryn Fruchey added three points apiece. Peyton Worcester made one basket in the final period.

Bluffton connected on 14 deuces and drained five triples. The Pirates converted nine of 17 free throws (53 percent).

The T-Birds canned five two-point goals and no treys. LCC sank just one of seven free throws (14 percent).

UP NEXT
The Pirate girls host league foe Lincolnview (6-8, 1-1 NWC) on Thursday, Jan. 22. A two-quarter JV game will tip off at 5:30 p.m.

Spencerville leads the Northwest Conference standings at 4-0, followed by Columbus Grove at 3-0. Bluffton and local rival Allen East are knotted at 2-1. AE edged Crestview (2-2) in overtime Thursday, 55-51.  

The Lancers hosted Grove on Thursday.