By Cort Reynolds

The visiting Bluffton High School boys basketball team rode a big third period to defeat Van Buren 60-49 in a non-league bout Tuesday night, February 14.

The Pirates trailed just 28-26 at halftime, and took control of the game with an 18-8 third stanza. They then won the fourth quarter 16-13 to capture the contest going away by 11.

Bluffton outscored VB 34-21 after intermission. They hit seven of eight free throws in the fourth period.

Pirate Wade Ginther led all scorers with 22 points. He tallied nine markers in the first period to keep Bluffton within 16-14. Both teams scored 12 points in the second stanza. 

Branson Hilty poured in a season-high 17 points and canned three trifectas to help the Pirates win.

Pirate guard Marek Donaldson drilled three three-pointers to score 15 points. 

Bluffton improved to 13-8 overall with the win. VB finished its regular season 9-13 after the loss.

Bluffton connected on 19 field goals. The Pirates sank 11 two-pointers, and drained eight three-point goals. 

Bluffton converted 14 of 19 attempts from the foul line (74 percent).

VB canned 17 shots from the field. The Black Knights hit 13 two-point goals and drilled four treys. 

VB converted 11 of 15 shots from the charity stripe (73 percent). 

The Pirates committed 11 turnovers, and VB was guilty of a dozen miscues.  

VB 49 (9-13)

Harrington 3 2-2 9, Reichley 1 3-4 5, S. Gregory 4 0-0 10, J. Gregory 1 1-2 3, Beilharz 3 2-2 9, Sendelbach 0 0-1 0, Homan 4 3-4 11, WIlkin 1 0-0 2.

Totals: 13-4/11-15/49. 3-pointers: S. Gregory 2, Harrington 1, Beilharz 1.

Bluffton 60 (13-8)

Donaldson 5 2-4 15, L. Ginther 0 0-0 0, Soper 0 1-2 1, W. Ginther 7 7-9 22, Worcester 1 0-0 3, Boblitt 0 0-0 0, Wright 0 0-0 0, Yoder 1 0-0 2, Hilty 5 4-4 17.

Totals: 11-8/14-19/60. 3-pointers: Donaldson 3, Hilty 3, W. Ginther 1, Worcester 1.

1 2 3 4 F

VB 16 12 8 13 49

Bluf 14 12 18 16 60

The Pirates play at Elmwood Thursday in the regular season finale.

Bluffton was seeded sixth at the Div. III sectionals. On Wednesday, February 22 at 6 p.m. in the Elida Fieldhouse, they will play fifth-seeded rival Allen East (13-7) in the first round.

The Pirates just beat AE 61-54 Feb. 10.

The Pirate/Mustang survivor advances to play the winner between seventh seed LCC and eighth seed Coldwater Friday, Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m.

Sectional winners move on to the Lima Senior district March 1.

Ottawa-Glandorf (15-3) is the top seed, with Spencerville second (16-2). Carey (18-3) is third and Liberty-Benton (17-2) fourth in the 13-team sectional.