The host Bluffton girls basketball team overcame a five-point halftime deficit to defeat backyard rival Allen East 56-51 in the championship game of the annual McDonald's Holiday Tournament Saturday afternoon, November 20.

The Lady Pirates trailed 28-23 at intermission, but outscored AE 33-23 in the second half, including 13-8 in the final quarter.

Bluffton tied the game 43-43 after three periods with a 20-15 quarter. Riley Busch scored six points and Kylie Monday added five in the key stanza. 

Pirate Ayla Grandey tallied five points in the fourth quarter, while Monday added four markers.

Bluffton senior Monday was named tournament MVP. Teammates Sami Scoles and Grandey were also voted to the all-tournament squad.

Freshman Grandey led the Pirate girls with 15 points in the title game win. Busch scored 10 points, while Scoles and Monday added nine points apiece. All of Monday's points came in the second half.

Kylie Stackhouse netted seven points, and Riley Eachus added six markers.

Rilynn Jones and Savana Brooks of AE were named to the all-tournament team.

AE's Brooks led all scorers with 18 points. She tallied all eight of the Mustang points in the fourth period.

AE guard Jones contributed nine points on three trifectas. Aubrey Young and Elle Richardson added six points apiece.

The Lady Pirates canned 20 baskets. They made six shots from beyond the arc, and sank 14 shots from two-point range. Bluffton converted 10 of its 15 charity stripe tries (67 percent).

AE made 13 two-point field goals, and also drained six triples for 19 total baskets. They sank seven of 10 foul shots (70 percent).

Bluffton is slated to play at Fort Jennings November 27, then visit LCC Nov. 30. AE plays at local rival USV Nov. 23.

AE 51 (1-1)

Brinkman 0, Truex 2 0-0 4, Brooks 5 6-8 18, Jones 3 0-0 9, Young 3 0-0 6, Richardson 2 1-2 6, Jackson 2 0-0 4, Rodriguez 1 0-0 2, Nickles 1 0-0 2. 

Totals: 13-6/7-10/51. 3-pointers: Jones 3, Brooks 2, Richardson 1. 

Bluffton 56 (2-0)

Busch 3 3-4 10, Eachus 2 0-0 6, Stackhouse 3 1-2 7, Scoles 3 2-2 9, Monday 3 1-3 9, Grandey 6 3-4 15. 

Totals: 14-6/10-15/56. 3-pointers: Eachus 2, Monday 2, Scoles 1, Busch 1.

1 2 3 4 F

AE 14 14 15 8 51

Bluf 10 13 20 13 56

Cory-Rawson beat Arlington 43-35 in the consolation contest Saturday afternoon. C-R's Paige McVetta and Brooklyn Smith of Arlington were named to the all-tournament team.

Lanie Kempf scored 13 points and McVetta added 12 in the third-place game win for the Hornet girls. Smith scored 10 points and Kylie Jolliff led Arlington with 13 points. A total of 29 turnovers hurt the Red Devils.