Ginther scores game-high 23 points, Donley scores 21

By Cort Reynolds

VAN WERT__The visiting Bluffton High School boys basketball team was hit with an early barrage of triples and lost to Northwest Conference leader Lincolnview 80-66 on Friday, January 23.

The balanced Lancers placed four players in double-figure scoring.

First-place Lincolnview bombed in five first-period treys to build a 28-15 lead they never relinquished.

The Pirates fought back within 42-36 at halftime behind a 21-14 second stanza as Lane Ginther scored nine points.

But the Lancers outscored the Pirates 19-15 in each of the last two periods to pull away and win by 14.

The Pirates slumped to 4-9 overall and 0-4 in the NWC after the road defeat.

Lincolnview improved to 13-2 overall and 4-0 in NWC play with the home win.

Lancer Gavin Evans led the victors with 21 points, including nine in the fourth period. Max Hammons and Chayse Overholt each contributed 19 points. Marshall Hammons added 13 markers.

Max Hammons scored seven points in the third quarter, while Marshall Hammons drilled two of his three treys in the same stanza.

Overholt drained five of the 12 Lancer triples. Max Hammons nailed a pair of treys.

The Pirates were led by Lane Ginther, who tallied a game-high 23 points on nine baskets, including two trifectas, and three foul shots. Brody Donley had 21 points.

Parker Lovell netted eight points, while Bean Ginther and Robbie Taylor scored seven apiece. 

The Pirates connected on 21 two-point goals and splashed five triples. Bluffton converted nine of their 11 shots from the charity stripe (82 percent). 

Lincolnview sank 19 deuces, buried a dozen trifectas and canned six of nine foul shots (67 percent).

UP NEXT The Pirates are scheduled to host Pandora-Gilboa on Saturday, Jan. 24. P-G (7-6) lost at home to Arlington 58-30 on Friday.