By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON__The Bluffton High School boys basketball team defeated visiting Cory-Rawson 73-51 in the semifinals of their annual McDonald’s Holiday tournament on Friday night, December 29.

The Pirates improved to 5-1 with the lopsided win, while C-R fell to 2-5 after the loss.

Bluffton will play Arlington (5-3) in the championship game Saturday night at approximately 6:30 p.m. The Red Devils crushed winless Continental 77-41 in the first semifinal on Friday.

Continental (0-8) will face Cory-Rawson in the consolation game at 5 p.m. Saturday evening.

The Pirates led Cory 19-6 after the opening stanza and were never threatened. C-R managed to edge within 34-23 at intermission.

But a 24-15 Pirate third period put the game out of reach as seven Bluffton players scored in the quarter. Terron Boblitt sank two of his five three-pointers in the stanza.

A 15-13 Pirate fourth period provided the final margin.

Boblitt led all players with 19 points. John-Paul Yoder netted a season-high 13 points. Brody Sommers tallied 10 markers, and Blake Sommers added eight. Kerry Wright scored nine points.

Carson Reese and Wilson Garmatter each scored 14 points to lead the Hornets.

The Pirates connected on 21 two-point goals, and splashed six treys. Bluffton converted 13 of 15 free throws (87 percent).

The Hornets canned 14 two-pointers and drained seven trifectas. C-R made just two of its six foul shots (33 percent). 

Bluffton 73 (5-1)

B. Ginther 0 0-0 0, Donaldson 2 0-0 5, W. Ginther 3 0-0 6, Blk. Sommers 4 0-0 8, Bro. Sommers 4 2-2 10, Boblitt 7 0-0 19, Hilty 0 0-0 0, Worcester 0 3-4 3, Wright 2 5-6 9, Yoder 5 3-3 13.

Totals: 21-6/13-15/73. 3-pointers: Boblitt 5, Donaldson 1.

C-R 51 (2-5)

Stumpp 4 2-2 10, Boehm 1 0-2 2, Garmatter 6 0-0 14, Reese 5 0-0 14, Peckham 1 0-2 2, Inbody 4 0-0 9.

Totals: 14-7/2-6/51. 3-pointers:  Reese 4, Garmatter 2, Inbody 1.

In the first semifinal Friday evening, Arlington raced to an early 17-3 lead and built a 34-21 halftime advantage.

The Red Devils poured in 32 third-period points behind five three-pointers to blow the game wide open.

Jase Vermillion led nine Red Devils in the scoring column with 15 points behind three triples. Brady Griggs tallied 14 points, and Brady Kin added a dozen markers on four treys.

Arlington splashed 11 three-pointers. They outscored Continental 43-20 after intermission.

Brody Thomsen led the winless Pirates with nine points.