By Cort Reynolds

LEIPSIC__The visiting Bluffton High School girls basketball team fell victim to a hot-shooting Leipsic in the first half and lost 51-39 on Thursday evening, January 18.

Viking senior Leah Kirkendall scored all 13 of her points in the first half, sinking three triples, to shoot Leipsic into a 12-point intermission cushion.

Junior post Ayla Grandey drained two triples in the first period to keep Bluffton within 16-13. But a 16-7 second stanza behind four trifectas lifted Leipsic to a 32-20 halftime lead. 

The hosts maintained their dozen-point advantage at the end as the Pirate girls and Vikings played to a 19-19 tie in the second half.

The Pirates dropped to 6-8 overall and 1-3 in the NWC with the defeat. Meanwhile, the Viking girls improved to 7-7 overall and 1-4 in the NWC after the win.  

“Leipsic shot the ball really well in the first half, and we couldn’t find an answer for them,” said first-year Bluffton head coach Adam Burris. “We made some adjustments, and their two leading scorers scored less than five points in the second half.

“But we couldn’t dig ourselves out of the hole we got into from the first half,” he added. 

Grandey led the Pirates with 11 points. Pirate sophomores Blair Utendorf and Lauren Dearth each scored six points.

Leipsic junior Jazelle Perez tallied 10 of her game-high 14 points in the second half. Viking senior Ava Henry added 10 markers.

The Pirates sank nine two-point goals and drained five treys. They connected on six of nine free throws (67 percent).

Leipsic canned 14 deuces and splashed seven trifectas. The Vikings converted two of their mere three foul shots (67 percent).

Bluffton plays at local non-league foe Pandora-Gilboa (4-8) Saturday afternoon.

“We have a chance to bounce back quick and try for a W Saturday against Pandora,” Burris offered.

Leipsic 51 (7-7, 1-4 NWC)
Stuber 1 0-0 3, Fausey 1 0-0 3, Kirkendall 5 0-0 13, Cunningham 1 0-0 2, Henry 4 0-0 10, Schroeder 3 0-0 6, Perez 6 2-3 14.

Totals: 14-7/2-3/51. 3-pointers: Kirkendall 3, Henry 2, Stuber 1, Fausey 1.

Bluffton 39 (6-8, 1-3 NWC)
Burkholder 0, Hobensack 1 0-0 3, Cross 0 0-0 0, Fleece 2 0-0 5, Dearth 2 2-2 6, Schweingruber 0 0-0 0. Warren 0 1-2 1, Schaadt 1 0-0 3, Utendorf 3 0-1 6, Bassett 2 0-0 4, Grandey 3 3-4 11.

Totals: 9-5/6-9/39. 3-pointers: Grandey 2, Fleece 1, Schaadt 1, Hobensack 1.