By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON__The Bluffton High School girls basketball team rode a huge third period to a 45-35 victory over visiting Lincolnview in a Northwest Conference contest on Thursday, January 22.

The game was tied 7-7 after the first quarter, and Bluffton inched ahead 14-13 at halftime.  

The Pirates then authored a 19-5 third stanza to build a 33-18 margin heading to the fourth quarter. Eight different Bluffton players sank a field goal in the decisive quarter, while holding the Lancers to just two baskets.

Lincolnview battled back with its highest-scoring period in the final eight minutes, tallying 17 points. The visitors mustered just 18 total points over the first three periods against the stingy Bluffton defense. 

But Pirate senior Blair Utendorf scored five of her team’s 12 points in the fourth period to help keep the Lancers at bay.

The Pirate girls improved to 10-8 overall and 3-1 in the NWC after the home win.

Lincolnview dropped to 7-10 overall and 1-3 in NWC play with the defeat.

Seniors Macy Schaadt and Utendorf paced a balanced Pirate attack with 10 points apiece. Junior Greta Myers netted six markers.

Avery Hobensack, Maelee Miller and Lauren Dearth tallied five points apiece.

Keira Breese scored 10 points behind three triples to pace the Lancer girls. Brooklyn Byrne tallied seven markers. Joey-Kate Carey netted all seven of her points in the final stanza. Annabel Hostman added six points.

Bluffton canned 17 deuces and nailed one triple. The Pirates converted six of 14 free throws (43 percent).

The Lancers connected on seven two-point goals and buried five treys. Lincolnview sank six of nine free throws (67 percent).

UP NEXT
The Pirate girls host non-league foe Riverdale (8-5) on Saturday afternoon, Jan. 24.

Columbus Grove lead the Northwest Conference standings at 4-0, followed by Spencerville (4-1) and Crestview at 4-2. Bluffton is tied with the Knights for third at 3-1. Allen East sits in fifth place at 2-2.

Grove whipped visiting Spencerville 44-24 in a first-place NWC showdown Thursday night.