By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON – The Bluffton High School girls basketball team overcame a frigid start to defeat visiting Northwest Conference rival Spencerville 43-35 Thursday, January 30.

The Pirates trailed 4-2 after a very low-scoring first period. But they outscored the Bearcats 16-8 in the second stanza to take an 18-12 lead at halftime.

Bluffton then outscored the visitors 25-23 in the second half to secure an eight-point victory. 

Bluffton improved to 12-8 overall and 4-2 in the NWC after recording their third straight victory.  

Spencerville fell to 10-9 overall and 2-4 in NWC play with the defeat.

Macy Schaadt scored five points in each of the final three periods to tally a game-high 15 markers for the victors.  

Pirate senior post Ayla Grandey tallied a dozen points, including eight in the key second quarter.

Junior Blair Utendorf scored eight points, all in the second half. Maelee Miller contributed five markers. 

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Sophomore Briley Cook led the Bearcats with 14 points.

Bluffton connected on 16 two-point goals and buried one trifecta by Schaadt. The Pirates sank just eight of 20 foul shots (40 percent).

Spencerville canned eight two-pointers and drilled just one triple. The Bearcats converted 16 of 27 shots (59 percent) at the charity stripe.

Third-place Bluffton plays at league leader Columbus Grove (18-2, 6-0 NWC) Tuesday, February 6 in the conference finale. CG would clinch the outright league crown with a win. 

The Pirates would clinch sole possession of third in the league with an upset win.