By Cort Reynolds, Photos by Charles Wright

ELIDA – The Bluffton High School boys basketball team lost 70-56 to rival Lima Central Catholic in the Div. VI district semifinals at the Elida Fieldhouse Wednesday night, February 26 to end their season.

Bluffton inched within 28-27 late in the first half, but LCC freshman guard Jeff Williams canned a big trifecta at the buzzer to put the Thunderbirds on top 31-27 at intermission.

The Thunderbirds took control of the game with a crucial 24-15 third quarter to break away from the tight halftime score. 

Hot-shooting LCC knocked down 10 big three-pointers as they shot 57 percent from the field.

The Pirates finished the season 16-8 after suffering the defeat that snapped a three-game win streak. 

Streaking LCC improved to 16-7 by posting their 10th win in the last 11 games.

The Thunderbirds advance to the district finals Saturday at Elida against another NWC foe, Crestview (21-4). The Knights edged league rival Columbus Grove in the first semifinal Wednesday night at Elida, 42-37.

The T-Birds nipped Crestview 53-50 Feb. 7 in Lima.

The Pirates trailed 17-13 after the first period as LCC’s Brady Parker scored eight points. After a 14-14 second stanza Bluffton remained down four, 31-27, at halftime. Pirate junior Bean Ginther scored seven of his points in the second quarter.

T-Bird sophomore reserve Jaxon White scored all 10 of his points in the decisive third period, including two triples.

LCC standout Jordan Priddy netted nine of his game-high 25 points in the final stanza. The top-seeded T-Birds held on to win by 14 with a 15-14 fourth period.

Ginther led the Pirates with a season-high 18 points. Fellow junior Kain Wright tallied 17 markers.

Senior southpaw Blake Sommers netted nine points, and ended up leading the team with 14.5 ppg on the season. Pirate seniors Marek Donaldson and Terron Boblitt scored six points apiece as each splashed a pair of trifectas. 

Williams netted 11 of his 18 points in the second half. He also came up with six big steals. Sophomore Parker netted 13 markers behind three of five shooting from three-point land, and grabbed eight rebounds. 

White shot four for four from the floor, including two treys, to add 10 key points. Priddy sank 10 of his 15 field tries, and drilled three triples.

Bluffton connected on 13 two-point goals and drained seven of 17 triple tries (41 percent). The Pirates converted nine of 12 free throws (75 percent). 

LCC sank 19 two-pointers and drilled 10 of their 18 trifecta attempts (56 percent). The T-Birds converted both of their mere two foul shots (100 percent).

Overall, LCC canned 29 of its 51 shots from the field (57 percent). The T-Birds outscored Bluffton 38-26 inside the arc on 19 for 33 shooting accuracy (58 percent). LCC out-pointed the Pirates 30-21 beyond the arc. 

Bluffton also lost 56-53 at LCC January 17.

Pirate seniors Carter Hohenbrink, Terron Boblitt, Blake and Brody Sommers, injured Landen Worcester and Donaldson finished their high school careers with the loss.

Bluffton 56 (15-8)

Donaldson 2 0-0 6, Ginther 6 4-6 18, Wright 6 5-6 17, Boblitt 2 0-0 6, Bl. Sommers 4 0-0 9.
Totals: 13-7/9-12/56. 3-pointers (7-17): Ginther 2, Boblitt 2, Donaldson 2, Sommers 1.

LCC 70 (16-7)
Priddy 10 2-2 25, Parker 5 0-0 13, Pester 0 0-0 0, Quatman 0 0-0 0, Williams 8 0-0 18, Pernell 0 0-0 0, White 4 0-0 10, McKee 2 0-0 4.
Totals: 19-10/2-2/70. 3-pointers (10-18): Priddy 3, Parker 3, Williams 2, White 2.

Did you know the Icon delivers? Get the day's headlines by email at 5:00 p.m. https://bit.ly/Subscribe_Bluffton