Seeded 6th at sectionals, to face rival AE

By Cort Reynolds

The visiting Bluffton boys basketball team lost 56-53 to Elida in overtime during a non-conference matchup Tuesday night in the Elida Fieldhouse.

Pirate junior Wade Ginther led all players with 20 points. 

Bluffton sophomore Terron Boblitt tallied 11 markers, while senior guard Carson Soper contributed 10 points. Sophomore guard Marek Donaldson chipped in with nine points.

Bluffton dropped to 10-8 with the close defeat. Elida improved to 8-11 with the victory.

Brice Engle topped balanced Elida with 13 points. Bulldog David Etzkorn added a dozen markers.

Bluffton (5-2 NWC) resumes Northwest Conference play at local rival Allen East (12-5, 2-3 NWC) Friday, Feb. 10. 

The Pirates conclude a busy week at home vs. Kenton (7-12) Saturday, Feb. 11, their third game in five days.

The Pirates were seeded sixth in their Div. III tournament sectional. 

Bluffton will play fifth seed rival Allen East in the first round, a quick 12-day turnaround rematch. The local foes will meet Wednesday, February 22 at 6 p.m. at the Elida Fieldhouse in the sectional semifinals. 

The winner advances to play the victor between seventh seed LCC (7-10) and eighth seed Coldwater (9-10) Friday, Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m. in the sectional finals.

Sectional winners move on to the Lima Senior district semifinals March 1. The district finals are March 4 at Lima Senior.

Ottawa-Glandorf (15-3) is the top seed in the sectional, with Spencerville  (16-2) tabbed second. Carey (15-3) is seeded third and Liberty-Benton (17-2) is fourth in the tough 13-team sectional.