By Cort Reynolds

FINDLAY __The visiting Bluffton High School boys basketball team knocked off non-conference rival Liberty-Benton 45-42 on Saturday, January 31.

A big second-period turnaround led to the Pirate road victory. 

The Pirates trailed 18-13 after a high-scoring opening period. Three Eagles scored five points apiece as they hit three early triples.

But Bluffton limited L-B to just two points in the second stanza on one basket to seize a 23-20 lead at halftime.

The Pirates sank two trifectas in the 10-2 second quarter as their defense tightened up.

Both teams scored 22 points in a tense second half. The Pirates led 35-31 heading into the fourth period after a 12-11 third quarter.  

L-B narrowly outscored Bluffton 11-10 down the final stretch to come up short by three.

The Pirates improved to 6-10 overall after the victory, a big bounce-back win after losing by 34 Friday night to Spencerville.

Liberty-Benton fell to 9-7 with the home defeat.  

Eagle senior Lincoln Hollar led all players with 19 points, one night after netting 30 in a win over McComb. Senior guard Brody Thomas added 11 markers.

Parker Lovell led the balanced Pirate attack with 11 points. Lane Ginther tallied 10 markers, and Owen Scoles netted nine points with two triples. Ginther sank a big triple in the final period.

Bean Ginther contributed six points. He hit all four of his clutch foul shots in the crucial fourth period.

Bluffton freshman Brody Donley chipped in with seven points.

The Pirates connected on 10 two-point goals and buried six triples. Bluffton converted seven of 10 shots from the charity stripe (70 percent), all in the second half. They made five of eight in the fourth period.

The Eagles sank nine deuces and drained seven trifectas. L-B canned three of six foul shots (50 percent).

UP NEXT
The Pirates play at Toledo City League foe Toledo Woodward (3-9) on Tuesday, Feb. 3. 

Sitting last in the tough eight-team Northwest Conference, Bluffton (0-5 NWC) resumes league play at Columbus Grove (10-5, 2-2 NWC) Friday, Feb. 6. CG whipped Continental 66-26 Saturday.