By Cort Reynolds

LIBERTY CENTER - The visiting Bluffton High School boys basketball team started very slowly and rallied in the second half, only to lose 40-29 to non-conference foe Liberty Center on Saturday, February 7.

LC jumped ahead 14-2 after the opening period. Bluffton bounced back to score 11 points in the second quarter, yet trailed 28-13 at halftime.

The Pirates authored a 13-4 third period to creep within 32-26 heading into the fourth period.  

But Bluffton mustered just one basket, a Brody Donley triple, in the final quarter to lose by 11. The hosts managed eight points in the fourth to pull off the win.

Bluffton was outscored 22-5 in the first and fourth periods combined. In the middle quarters, the Pirates outscored the hosts 24-18.

The Pirates dropped to 7-12 overall after the road defeat. Liberty Center improved to 11-7 with the home win.

INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES

Bluffton freshman guard Donley led the Pirates with eight markers. 

Lane Ginther and Parker Lovell each netted seven points. Bean Ginther scored four points and Robby Taylor added a trey in the third quarter.

Kruse led LC with 10 points, and Gray added nine. Murduk contributed eight.

The Pirates connected on seven two-point goals and buried three triples. Bluffton converted six of nine shots from the charity stripe (67 percent).  

LC canned 12 deuces and drained four trifectas. The Tigers sank four of six foul shots (67 percent).

UP NEXT
Bluffton hosts WBL foe Elida (3-15) on Tuesday, Feb. 10. The struggling Bulldogs lost their first seven games and have dropped eight of their last 10. Elida lost 53-35 to Defiance on Friday.

The Pirates (0-6 NWC) then entertain tough backyard Northwest Conference rival Allen East (13-7, 3-2 NWC) on Friday, Feb. 13. AE beat Ft. Jennings 69-56 Saturday.