Calvin Willow named MVP; Wayne Trace defeats Emmanuel Christian

By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON__The Bluffton High School boys basketball team lost 44-31 to Arlington in the championship contest of the annual Pirate McDonald’s Holiday Classic tournament at Bluffton University on Monday, December 29.

The Pirates trailed 14-5 after the first quarter, but stayed within striking distance, down only 18-12 after a defensive first half. Bluffton won a low-scoring second stanza 7-4 as Brayden McClure nailed a trey and Kain Wright hit two baskets.

A 13-7 third period gave Arlington a 31-19 advantage heading into the final stanza. The Red Devils narrowly won the fourth 13-12 despite treys by Brady Donley and Robby Taylor to clinch a 13-point victory.     

The Pirates fell to 3-5 overall after the defeat, which snapped their three-game win streak. Arlington improved to 6-3 with the win.

Wayne Trace (4-4) destroyed Emmanuel Christian 58-15 in the third-place consolation game Monday evening.

Senior Wright was the leading Pirate scorer for the fourth straight game with 13 points. Parker Lovell and McClure added four markers apiece.

Red Devil 6-10 senior center Calvin Willow scored a game-high 25 points, including eight in the first period, to pace the victors. He netted a dozen points in the first half and tallied 13 after intermission. 
Willow made 12 baskets and one foul shot in three attempts.

Teammate Trenton Heacock added eight markers. 

The Pirates connected on eight two-point goals and splashed four triples. Bluffton converted three of six at the charity stripe (50 percent). 

Arlington sank 19 deuces, drained just one trifecta and canned three of five foul shots (60 percent).
Willow was the tournament MVP after scoring 45 points in the two wins. 

Arlington’s Willow and Ayden Cavinee made the all-tournament team, along with Heacock. Cavinee totaled 25 points in the tourney, including eight in the title game. 

Pirates Kain Wright and Bean Ginther were the Pirate representatives on the all-tourney squad.
Bluffton hosts Van Buren (5-1) in a non-league bout on Saturday, January 3.

CONSOLATION GAME
WT raced to a 20-3 lead over Emmanuel Christian by the end of the first period and rolled to a 43-point blowout win. The Raiders led 41-8 at halftime in the mismatch and routed EC, 58-15.

Raiders Zach Stoller and Tanner Laukhaf each made the all-tournament squad.

Laukhaf scored 15 of his 18 points in the first half of the lopsided victory. Raider Carter Clemens contributed 10 markers. Stoller added nine.

Laukhuf canned three first-period triples as he tallied 11 points in the first eight minutes. 

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