By Cort Reynolds
SPENCERVILLE - Six days after posting a state-record three-point onslaught, the visiting Bluffton boys were stifled 47-36 by Northwest Conference foe Spencerville in a defensive battle Friday night. 

Bluffton led 11-6 after a low-scoring first period. But Spencerville took control with a 17-8 second stanza to go in front 23-19 at intermission.

The Bearcats extended the margin to 34-26 after three quarters. Spencerville won the final stanza 13-10 as they canned nine of 12 free throws. 

Bluffton's record dropped to 5-8 overall (1-4 NWC) after the defeat. The Bearcats improved to 4-10 (1-3 NWC) by earning their first league victory. 

Senior Nic Essinger led Bluffton with 11 points. Carson Soper netted 10 and Nate Schaadt added eight markers.

Sophomore guard Josh Henline scored 14 points to lead the Bearcats. He sank seven of eight foul shots, including 4-4 in the fourth period.

Bearcat soph forward Dylan Cook added nine markers, with five coming in the second stanza and four in the fourth quarter.

After pouring in 101 points vs. Cory-Rawson in their previous game last Saturday, the prolific Pirate perimeter attack cooled off. 

They tied a 21-year old Ohio high school boys record by sinking a whopping 25 three-point field goals in the win over C-R. The record was set by St. Henry in 2000 against Upper Scioto Valley.

Against Spencerville, Bluffton managed to can just three trifectas. 

The 36 points was the lowest single-game output by the Pirates this season. They came into Friday's contest averaging 67.6 points a game, with their previous low of 44 coming in a January 5 loss at Wapakoneta.

The Pirates hit eight shots inside the arc, and made three shots from three-point land. Bluffton converted just 11 of 23 tries (48 percent) from the charity stripe.  

Spencerville canned 13 baskets, only two more than the Pirates. But they won the free throw battle, 18-11. 

The Bearcats also knocked down three shots from three-point territory, and connected on 10 two-point baskets. They converted 18 of 28 attempts from the charity stripe (64 percent).     

Bluffton committed nine of its 15 turnovers in the first half, while the Bearcats were guilty of just seven miscues.

The Pirates are now 1-5 on the road this season.

Spencerville 47 (4-10, 1-3 NWC)
Henline 3 7-8 14, Bowens 0, D. Smith 3 2-7 9, E. Smith 0, Goecke 2 3-6 7, Koenig 1 0-0 2, Prichard 1 4-5 6, Cook 3 2-2 9.
Totals: 10-3/18-28/47. 3-pointers: Henline 1, D. Smith 1, Cook 1.

Bluffton 36 (5-8, 1-4 NWC)
Donley 0, T. Shutler 0 1-2 1, Kinn 1 1-3 4, Boblitt 0 2-6 2, Schaadt 4 0-2 8, Soper 3 3-4 10, Essinger 3 4-6 11.
Totals: 8-3/11-23/36. 3-pointers: Soper 1, Kinn 1, Essinger 1. 

 
    1    2    3    4    F
Svl    6    17    11    13    47               
Blf    11    8    7    10    36          

Bluffton (4-3 home) entertains non-conference foe McComb (4-11)  Tuesday, Jan. 26. 

The Pirates then host two-time defending NWC champion Columbus Grove (8-1, 3-0 NWC) Friday, January 29.