The Bluffton High School girls basketball team rallied from a big deficit only to lose a 41-39 thriller at first-year league member Leipsic in Northwest Conference play Thursday night, January 13.

Bluffton trailed 11-0 after a scoreless first quarter and faced an uphill climb. The Pirate girls rallied with a 19-point second stanza, putting the score at 23-19 at halftime. 

The teams had an even 7-7 result in the third quarter. Bluffton outscored the Viking girls 13-11 in the fourth quarter, but finished two points shy of Leipsic’s total.

The Pirates had their seven-game win streak snapped, falling to 11-4 overall and 2-2 in the NWC. Leipsic improved to 9-4 and 2-3 in NWC play with the close victory.

Senior Kylie Monday scored 13 points to pace the Pirates. Riley Eachus netted 11 markers with the aid of three triples.

Senior guard Sami Scoles tallied six points, while classmate Kylie Stackhouse added five.

Kyrsten Martinez led Leipsic with 13 points.

The Pirate girls knocked down 14 of 46 field goal tries (36 percent). Bluffton made good on nine of 27 two-point attempts (33 percent) and canned five of 19 trifectas (26 percent). They converted six of nine free throw attempts (67 percent).

The Vikings canned 12 of 36 field goals (33 percent). They hit seven of 19 two-pointers (37 percent) and made five of 17 triple tries (29 percent). 

Leipsic splashed 12 of its 16 free throws (75 percent). The Vikings outscored Bluffton 12-6 at the charity stripe.

Bluffton committed 21 turnovers, while Leipsic made 14 errors. The Vikings scored 15 points off turnovers compared to 11 by the Pirates. 

Leipsic tallied seven points in transition, while Blufffton scored four.

The Pirates out-rebounded the Vikings, 38-22. This led to a 9-0 advantage in second chance points for Bluffton.

Leipsic 41 (9-4, 2-3 NWC)

L. Kirkendall 1 2-2 4, A. Kirkendall 1 0-0 2, Henry 0 1-3 1, Hermiller 2 4-4 8, Langhals 3 3-4 11, Schroeder 1 0-0 2, Haselman 0, Martinez 4 2-3 13.

Totals: 12-36/12-16/41. 3-pointers (5-17): Martinez (3-6), Langhals (2-4), Henry (0-4), Hermiller (0-1), Kirkendall (0-2).

Bluffton 39 (11-4, 2-2 NWC)

Busch 0-1 0-0 0, Eachus 4-13 0-0 11, Stackhouse 1-4 3-6 5, Giesige 0-3 0-0 0, Scoles 3-7 0-0 6, Monday 4-13 3-3 13, Grandey 2-4 0-0 4.

Totals: 14-46/6-9/39. 3-pointers (5-19): Eachus (3-9), Monday (2-6), Giesige (0-2), Scoles (0-2). 

1 2 3 4 F

Leip 11 12 7 11 41

Bluf 0 19 7 13 39

Bluffton plays at local non-league rival Pandora-Gilboa (7-6) Saturday afternoon, Jan. 15.