The visiting Bluffton High School boys varsity basketball squad edged Crestview 49-48 in a thrilling Northwest Conference battle of league unbeatens on Friday night, January 7.

Bluffton led 31-23 at halftime, but the Knights rallied within 38-36 heading to the final stanza.

Crestview pulled ahead 44-42 before Carson Soper made a layup to tie it. Kyler Kinn then scored to put the Pirates on top, 46-44.

After a Knight basket knotted the score at 46-all, Marek Donaldson drained a triple with 50 seconds left to give Bluffton a 49-46 edge.

Crestview's Rontae Jackson had a chance to tie it at the end when he was fouled while making a basket. But he missed the potential tying free throw.

A last-second Knight shot then missed to preserve the one-point Pirate win.

Kinn led balanced Bluffton with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Donaldson contributed nine points, while Trenton Donley added eight. Soper chipped in with seven markers.

Jackson and Mitch Temple each tallied 11 to pace the Knights.

Bluffton improved to 8-1 and moved into sole possession of first place at 3-0 in the NWC with their seventh straight victory. 

Crestview fell to 6-3 and 2-1 in the NWC with the defeat. The Knights fell into a three-way tie for third place in the league with Spencerville and Leipsic after the close loss. 

The Vikings knocked off defending champion Columbus Grove (1-2) Friday, 59-52.

Bluffton drained 18 baskets, connecting on 10 two-pointers to go with eight treys. 

The Knights connected on 19 baskets.

Crestview 48 (6-3, 2-1 NWC)

Jackson 11, Temple 11, Hunter 9, Etzler 7, Lichtle 6, Easterling 4. Totals: 19-45/3-/48. 

Bluffton 49 (8-1, 3-0 NWC)

Donley 3 0-0 8, Shutler 1 0-0 2, Soper 3 0-0 7, Kinn 5 0-0 10, Boblitt 2 0-0 6, Schaadt 3 0-0 7, Ackerman 0, Donaldson 3 0-0 9. Totals: 18-43/5-1/49. 3-pointers: Donley 2, Donaldson 3, Boblitt 2, Schaadt 1.

1 2 3 4 F

Cvw 12 11 13 12 48

Blu 15 16 7 11 49

Bluffton plays at slumping Ft. Jennings (2-9), which has lost seven of its last eight, on Saturday night, January 8.