Bluffton hosts Ottawa-Glandorf (2-0) on Friday, December 5

By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON__In their season opener, the Bluffton High School boys basketball team lost 61-51 to visiting Miller City on Tuesday, December 2.

The Pirates led 30-25 at halftime after fashioning a 15-9 second quarter. But MC seized the momentum with an 18-8 third-period turnaround. The Wildcats outscored the Pirates 36-21 after intermission to win by 10.

Bluffton begins 0-1, while MC improved to 2-0 with the non-league road victory.

The Wildcats outscored the Pirates 18-2 at the free-throw line. The visitors led a slim 16-15 edge after a high-scoring first period.

Lane Ginther led the Pirates with 14 points, scoring seven in both halves. Robby Taylor tallied all 11 of his markers in the first half on the strength of three triples. He nailed two treys in the first period and one in the second.

Parker Lovell added 10 points, including five in the fourth stanza and eight in the second half. Brody Donley contributed seven markers, while Brayden McClure sank two treys for six points.

Henry Rump led three Wildcats in double figures with 14 points. He scored six points in both the first and fourth quarters. 

MC’s Grady Troyer netted 13 markers, and Jonathan Pester added 11. Pester scored seven of his points in the decisive third period. Troyer sank eight of 10 from the charity stripe, including 4-4 in the fourth period.

The Pirates made 11 deuces and drilled nine trifectas. Bluffton canned just two of seven at the charity stripe (29 percent).

MC canned 17 two-point goals and drained three triples. The Wildcats converted 18 of 22 at the foul line (82 percent). 

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