By Cort Reynolds
PAULDING - Visiting Bluffton got outscored by eight points in the second half and lost a tough 52-47 battle at Paulding in Northwest Conference boys basketball action Friday night.

The Pirates led 27-24 at the half after a strong 17-11 second period. The teams were tied 36-36 heading to the final quarter in the tight contest.

The Panthers then out-pointed Bluffton 16-11 in the fourth period as senior guard Blake McGarvey netted 10 of his game-high 24 points to pull out the win.

McGarvey canned all eight of his foul shot attempts, including 4-4 in the fourth period. Paulding converted six of eight from the charity stripe in the final stanza.

Bluffton dropped to 3-6 overall (1-2 NWC) with their fourth consecutive defeat. Meanwhile, victorious Paulding improved to 6-4 (2-1 NWC) after the win.     

Kyler Kinn led Bluffton with 15 markers, and Trey Boblitt contributed 13 points. 

Pirate Trenton Donley nailed two trifectas in the second quarter, while Boblitt scored five points in the best Pirate period of the night.

Senior Payton Beckman supported McGarvey by netting 10 points, including two triples and eight markers in the first half. 

Both teams connected on 15 field goals. 

The Panthers sank eight shots from three-point territory, and hit on seven baskets inside the arc. The hosts canned 14 of 18 attempts from the charity stripe (78 percent).     

The Pirates canned 10 shots inside the arc, and drained five from three-point land. Bluffton converted just 12 of 23 free throws (52 percent) from the charity stripe, including 6-13 in the final period.  

Bluffton committed 14 turnovers.

Paulding 52 (6-4, 2-1 NWC)
Adams 0, McGarvey 6 8-8 24, Bauer 3 3-4 9, Manz 0 1-2 1, Kauser 1 0-0 3, Pease 2 0-0 5, Beckman 3 2-4 10.
Totals: 7-8/14-18/52. 3-pointers: McGarvey 4, Beckman 2, Pease 1, Kauser 1.

Bluffton 47 (3-6, 1-2 NWC)
Donley 2 0-1 6, T. Shutler 0 0-2 0, Kinn 6 2-5 15, Boblitt 4 3-4 13, Schaadt 1 1-3 3, Soper 0 4-6 4, Essinger 2 2-2 6.
Totals: 10-5/12-23/47. 3-pointers: Donley 2, Boblitt 2, Kinn 1. 
 
    1    2    3    4    F
Pau    13    11    12    16    52
Blf    10    17    9    11    47