By Cort Reynolds

Playing at home, the Bluffton High School boys basketball team defeated Columbus Grove 67-52 with a big second half in a Northwest Conference clash Friday night, February 3.

The Pirates outscored Grove 40-23 after intermission to win going away.

Bluffton led 14-8 after one period, but trailed 29-27 at intermission. The hosts built a 43-39 lead after three quarters with a 16-10 period as Wade Ginther netted 10 big markers.

The Pirates authored a 24-13 fourth quarter behind nine points from Marek Donaldson to post the victory. 

Bluffton sank all nine of its free throw attempts in the final period to cement the triumph. 

Donaldson nailed a trey, a deuce and four of four foul shots in the decisive final quarter.

Ginther scored 14 of his career-high 22 points in the second half to pace the victors.  

Bluffton improved its record to 9-7 overall and 5-2 in the NWC with the victory. Slumping CG dropped to 5-11 overall and 3-3 in the NWC after their seventh consecutive defeat.

The Pirates are third in the nine-team NWC, behind only Spencerville (6-0) and Crestview (5-1). Grove is fifth in the standings.

Pirate sophomore Donaldson tallied 17 points. Post John-Paul Yoder netted a season-high dozen markers.

Trenton Barraza led CG with 16 points. Bulldog Zach Reynolds tallied 10 points. Tadd Koch and Kyle Hopkins each added eight markers.

Bluffton connected on 22 field goals. The Pirates netted 18 baskets inside the arc and drained four three-point goals. 

Bluffton converted a red-hot 19 of 20 attempts from the foul line (95 percent).

Grove canned 17 shots from the field, sinking 13 two-point goals and four treys. 

CG converted 14 of 18 shots from the charity stripe (78 percent). 

The Pirates committed 10 turnovers, and the Bulldogs were guilty of eight miscues.  

CG 52 (5-11, 3-3 NWC)

Reynolds 4 2-3 10, Barraza 6 4-5 16, Sautter 0 0-0 0, Best 0 2-2 2, Hopkins 2 2-2 8, Bame 0 3-4 3, Koch 3 1-2 8, Mayes 2 0-0 5.

Totals: 13-4/14-18/52. 3-pointers: Hopkins 2, Mayes 1, Koch 1. 

Bluffton 67 (9-7, 5-2 NWC)

Donaldson 5 4-4 17, L. Ginther 0 0-0 0, Soper 2 1-2 5, W. Ginther 9 3-3 22, Worcester 1 4-4 6, Boblitt 0 0-0 0, Wright 0 0-0 0, Yoder 4 4-4 12, Hilty 1 3-3 5.

Totals: 18-4/19-20/67. 3-pointers: Donaldson 3, W. Ginther 1.

1 2 3 4 F

CG 8 21 10 13 52
Bluf 14 13 16 24 67

Bluffton entertains non-league foe Riverdale (2-15) Saturday, Feb. 4.