The Bluffton High School boys basketball team used a big second quarter to pave the way for a 57-50 win at non-league foe Kenton Saturday night, December 2.
The Pirates improved to 2-0 with the road win, while the Wildcats fell to 1-1 after the result.
The Bluffton High School boys basketball team romped over the visiting Elmwood Royals 86-46 in the season opener behind a huge second half Friday night, December 1.
The Pirates tipped off their season on time despite their long football playoff run of four games that ended just two weeks ago.
Junior guard Marek Donaldson drained five of the team’s eight triples and scored a game-high 22 points to pace the victors.
Blake Sommers netted 13 of his 19 points in the first half as the Pirates built a 40-29 lead. The Pirates led only 17-14 after the first period before catching fire.
Donaldson hit three triples and scored 13 of the 25 Bluffton points in the third stanza as they built their lead to 29 points at 65-36.
Bluffton outscored the Royals 25-7 in the third period to blow the game wide open. The hosts won the second half convincingly, 46-17.
The Bluffton girls basketball team led by 11 at the half, but visiting Miller City outscored their hosts by 19 points after the break to pull out a 51-43 non-league win Thursday night, November 30.
Women’s Basketball downs Heidelberg 78-70 for first win
(November 21) TIFFIN__The Bluffton University women's basketball team found its groove while taking down Heidelberg University 78-70 for its first win of the season on Tuesday, November 21, 2023. Bluffton improved to 1-3 as the Student Princes slipped to 2-2.
The tenacious Allen East girls basketball team fashioned a decisive 17-2 run to start the fourth quarter and key a 55-37 win over host Bluffton in the championship game of the annual McDonald’s Holiday Tournament Friday night, November 24.
The Mustangs led throughout, but had their 12-point halftime lead whittled to 38-33 entering the fourth period after the spunky Pirates authored a 14-7 third period.
Than a withering AE fullcourt press forced nine Pirate turnovers in the final stanza. Combined with five offensive putback baskets, the press allowed the Mustangs to pull away and win comfortably.
The relentless AE pressure helped force 28 costly turnovers, many of which were turned into transition baskets for the victors.
Bluffton to face rival AE in title game Friday night
By Cort Reynolds
The Bluffton girls basketball team opened a new season with a furious 53-50 comeback win over Cory-Rawson in the semifinals of their annual McDonald’s Holiday Tournament Wednesday night, November 22.
The Pirates trailed 39-24 at halftime after C-R exploded for 24 points in the second period.
But the Pirate girls turned up the defense and held the Hornets to just 11 points in the second half while scoring 29 themselves to rally for the hard-fought victory.
Bluffton post Ayla Grandey netted a game-high 28 points on nine baskets and nine free throws to pace the victors.
The Pirates (1-0) will now face local league rival Allen East in the championship finals Friday evening at approximately 7:15-7:30 p.m. The Pirate girls knocked off AE 55-52 last year in the title game.
