By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON__The Bluffton High School boys basketball team blasted visiting Leipsic 79-43 in a Northwest Conference matchup on Friday, January 19, to earn their ninth consecutive win.

A 33-point Pirate outburst in the third period buried the Vikings. A 33-10 edge in the decisive stanza blew open a previously competitive 31-23 game at halftime.

Bluffton outscored Leipsic 48-20 after intermission to win going away.

The Pirates led 16-8 after the first quarter, and the hosts maintained that eight-point advantage at intermission.

Bluffton improved to 11-1 overall and 4-0 in the NWC to stay alone atop the league after the blowout win. The Vikings fell to 7-6 and 2-2 in the NWC with the lopsided loss.

Spencerville (9-3) is second in the NWC standings at 3-0, followed by Allen East (2-1).

The lone Pirate defeat was a 45-40 defeat to WBL power Ottawa-Glandorf back on December 8.

Terron Boblitt fired in two treys and scored 10 points in the third quarter to spearhead the 33-point period. Seven Pirates scored in the red-hot stanza as they canned four triples, nine two-pointers and sank three of three foul shots.

Blake Sommers led the victors with 17 points behind three treys. Boblitt contributed 13 markers, and Landen Worcester scored 10. 

Brody Sommers netted nine points, and Wade Ginther added eight as 10 Pirates scored. 

Junior wing Tavis Bejarano was the lone Viking in double figures with 10 points.

Bluffton canned 24 two-pointers and drilled eight triples in the win. The Pirates converted seven of eight from the free throw line (88 percent).

Leipsic connected on 14 two-point goals, and splashed three triples. Bluffton outscored the Vikings 48-28 on two-pointers, and 24-9 on trifectas.

The Vikings converted six of 10 tries from the charity stripe (60 percent). 

Bluffton committed 14 turnovers, compared to 11 miscues by the Vikings.

The Pirates visit BVC leader Liberty-Benton (9-4) in a non-league bout Saturday, Jan. 20. L-B smothered McComb 54-28 Friday night.

Bluffton 79 (11-1, 4-0 NWC)

Donaldson DNP,
B. Ginther 1 0-0 2,
W. Ginther 3 2-2 8,
Blk. Sommers 7 0-0 17,
Bro. Sommers 4 1-1 9,
Boblitt 5 1-2 13, Hilty 2 1-1 5,
Worcester 5 0-0 10,
Ker. Wright 2 0-0 4,
Yoder 0 0-0 0,
Hohenbrink 2 0-0 6,
Ka. Wright 1 2-2 5.

Totals: 24-8/7-8/79. 3-pointers: Blk. Sommers 3, Boblitt 3, Worcester 1.   W. Ginther 1. 

Leipsic 43 (7-6, 2-2 NWC)

Lomeli 1 0-0 3,
Paris 2 1-2 5,
Brecht 3 2-2 8,
Carillo 0 1-2 1,
Brandt 2 0-0 4,
N. Schroeder 1 1-1 3,
T. Lammers 4 1-3 9,
Bejarano 4 0-0 10.

Totals: 14-3/6-10/43. 3-pointers: Bejarano 2, Lomeli 1.