By Cort Reynolds

The Bluffton girls basketball squad defeated Fort Jennings 55-39 in a non-league battle last Thursday night, December 1, to stay undefeated.

The hosts raced to a 17-6 first period lead, but FJ edged within 32-23 at halftime. 

Yet Bluffton pulled away with a 14-4 third period to build a 19-point lead. Riley Eachus sank two trifectas in the key third period outburst.

The Lady Pirates improved to 4-0 with the decisive victory, while FJ fell to 1-4 with the loss.

"We played well and took advantage of some mismatches that put us into position to win," said Pirate head coach Eric Garmatter.

Senior point guard Sami Scoles led the victors with 17 points on perfect three-point and foul shooting. The versatile Scoles also grabbed 10 rebounds, dished out four assists and swiped two steals.

Eachus netted a career-best 16 points on seven for nine shooting accuracy. She also made four steals and doled out two assists.

Sophomore post Ayla Grandey contributed 11 points and 11 rebounds. She also stole the ball twice and had two assists.

Hustling Kendal Giesige passed out four assists, had seven deflections and scored five points.

Reagan Ricker led FJ with 10 points. Autumn Calvelage netted nine and Rachel Von Sossan added eight markers.

The Lady Pirates sank 20 of 51 field goal tries. They drilled 13 of 36 two-point shots (36 percent), and splashed a better seven of 15 shots from beyond the arc (47 percent). Bluffton converted  eight of 13 charity stripers (62 percent).

FJ made just eight of 30 two-point field goals (27 percent), and drilled six of 19 triples (32 percent) for total shooting of 14 for 49 (29 percent). The Musketeers sank five of 11 foul shots (45 percent).

Bluffton made 16 turnovers compared to 18 errors (12 Pirate steals) by the Musketeers. The Pirates out-rebounded FJ, 37-33.

Bluffton scored 15 transition points, and tallied 12 points off turnovers.

FJ 39 (1-4)

Calvelage 3-6 0-0 9, C. Von Sossan 2-8 0-0 4, Ricker 4-6 2-2 10, Hubert 0-1 0-0 0, Dickman 0-3 3-8 3, R. Von Sossan 3-9 0-0 8, Browning 0-9 0-1 0, Pothast 2-11 0-0 5.

Totals: 14-49/5-11/39. 3-pointers (6-19): Calvelage 3-5, R. Von Sossan 2-3, Pothast 1-6. 

Bluffton 55 (4-0)

Mehaffie 2-4 0-0 4, Fleece 0-4 1-3 1, Schweingruber 0-4 1-2 1, Eachus 7-9 0-0 16, Scoles 5-12 4-4 17, Giesige 2-5 0-2 5, Grothause 0-1 0-0 0, Utendorf 0-2 0-0 0, Grandey 4-12 2-2 11. 

Totals: 20-51/8-13/55. 3-pointers (7-15): Scoles 3-3, Eachus 2-3, Giesige 1-2, Grandey 1-2.

1 2 3 4 F

FtJ 6 17 4 12 39

Bluf 17 15 14 9 55