By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON – The Bluffton High School boys basketball team lost a 55-53 nailbiter to Arlington in a clash of undefeated teams vying for the championship of the annual McDonald’s Holiday Classic on December 28 at Bluffton University's Sommer Center. 

The Pirates fell to 6-1 with their first defeat. Arlington improved to 9-0 after the championship win.

Pirate Blake Sommers scored a game-high 20 points, while Kain Wright tallied 13 markers. Guard Marek Donaldson added eight points. 

Bluffton led 10-7 after the first period, and maintained a 24-19 edge at halftime. Arlington turned the momentum around with a 20-13 third quarter that gave the Devils a 39-37 edge heading to the final stanza.

Arlington canned 10 of 16 foul shots in the fourth quarter to hold on and post the two-point win.

Wayne Trace defeated Emmanuel Christian 41-36 in the third-place consolation game earlier Saturday evening.

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Pirate Bean Ginther canned two triples for six points. 

Red Devil Ayden Cavinee scored 10 of his 13 points in the second half to help lead the Arlington comeback.

Arlington’s Jase Vermillion contributed 13 markers as he hit all five of his foul shots. Tournament MVP Brady Griggs netted 12 points. Calvin Willow added nine points. 

Wright, Sommers, Willow and Vermillion were also voted all-tourney, along with MVP Griggs.

Bluffton canned 18 deuces and splashed four triples. The Pirates converted five of eight free throws (63 percent).

Arlington connected on 16 two-point goals and drained a pair of treys. The Red Devils canned 17 of 25 foul shots (68 percent). Arlington outscored the Pirates 17 to five at the charity stripe.

Fifteen of the 36 Devil points in the second half came from the foul line. Arlington outscored Bluffton 36-29 after intermission.

Bluffton visits non-league foe Van Buren (4-3) Saturday, January 4. The Pirates (1-0 NWC) resume league play Jan. 10 at Crestview (7-3, 1-1 NWC).

In the third-place contest, Wayne Trace improved to 5-3 with a hard-fought, five-point win over Emmanuel Christian.

Raider Caden Sinn led the victors with 18 points. Sinn scored eight of his markers in the third period. Carter Clemens added 14 points. 

Warrior Nate Miles scored a game-high 25 points on nine field goals, two treys and five foul shots. Miles tallied 54 points in the two games of the tournament to be the leading scorer for the two-day event.

EC led 8-6 after one period, but WT rallied to grab a 16-15 edge at the half. The Raiders won the second half 25-21 to pull out the close win. 

WT made eight of 12 foul shots in the final period to stave off the Warriors 13-11 down the stretch.

Miles and Sinn were named to the all-tournament team.