By Cort Reynolds
BLUFFTON - Homestanding Bluffton rallied behind a big fourth quarter to defeat Delphos Jefferson 58-48 in the Northwest Conference and regular season finale for boys basketball Friday night.
The Pirates trailed 40-36 heading to the fourth period after leading by six at intermission. But Bluffton outscored DJ 22-8 in the final stanza to win by 10.
Pirates Nic Essinger and Trey Boblitt each scored seven points in the fourth period to spearhead the comeback.
By Cort Reynolds
DELPHOS -Two Bluffton girls received All-Northwest Conference basketball notice from league coaches in voting conducted at their annual selection meeting this week.
Senior guard Laykin Garmatter and junior post Kylie Stackhouse were each voted honorable mention all-league.
The Lady Pirates finished their regular season 12-10 overall and 4-4 in the NWC, good for sixth in the nine-team league.
Spencerville senior Emma Leis was selected the 2020-21 NWC Player of the Year in voting by the league coaches.
By Cort Reynolds
VAN BUREN - Visiting Bluffton built a double-digit lead and staved off a late Van Buren rally to win a non-conference boys basketball makeup contest 49-44 Wednesday night.
By Cort Reynolds
RAWSON - Bluffton lost a seesaw nailbiter at Cory-Rawson 36-35 in a Div. IV girls basketball sectional semifinal Wednesday night to end their season in heartbreaking fashion.
Hornet Libby McVetta sank a game-winning three-pointer from out top to foil the Lady Pirate comeback effort.
C-R ran out to an early five-point lead after a Zoe Chisholm corner triple. The hosts led the Pirate girls 7-2 after a very low-scoring first period of play.
Bluffton stormed back with a 16-point second stanza to grab an 18-15 intermssion lead.
Photos by Jamie Nygaard
You've read about the Bluffton High School swim team on the Icon this winter, but you've not met the members.
This is the first official Bluffton swim team. Coaches are Rachel Diller and Bob Verb, who also coach the Bluffton Sardines summer team.
Nine members of the high school team advanced from the sectional tournament and will compete at the district event at Bowling Green State University on Feb. 19.
Photos by Jamie Nygaard
In their first season as a high school swimming team, nine swimmers from Bluffton High School qualified to move on to the district competition. The high school swim team participated in the Ohio High School Athletic Association Northwest District sectional meet held at the Lima YMCA.
Swimmers who finish in the top 32 spots for each event at each sectional advance on to the district competition.
