By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON__The Bluffton High School boys basketball team lost to visiting Blanchard Valley Conference power Van Buren 59-42 in a non-league bout on Saturday, January 3.

The Black Knights won the middle quarters by a combined score of 33-19 to pave the way to victory.

The Pirates trailed just 15-14 after the first quarter, but VB forged ahead 31-23 by the end of the first half.    

A 17-10 VB third period stretched their margin to 48-33 going into the final stanza. The visitors narrowly won the fourth, 11-9.

The Pirates fell to 3-6 overall after the home defeat. BVC leader Van Buren improved to 7-1 with the road victory.

Bean Ginther was the lone Pirate in double figures with 15 points. Seven of his markers came in the first period, and he tallied 11 in the first half.

Lane Ginther chipped in with seven points. Pirate senior Kain Wright and freshman Brody Donley added six points apiece.

Junior Grady Miller led a balanced Knight attack with 13 points as four VB players scored in double figures. Senior Finn Martin tallied 12, while seniors Cole Bishop and Alex Homan added 10 markers each.

The Pirates connected on 10 two-point goals and drained five triples. Bluffton converted seven of eight at the charity stripe (88 percent). 

VB sank 16 deuces, drilled six trifectas and canned nine of 12 foul shots (75 percent).

UP NEXT

Bluffton (0-1 NWC) resumes league play next Friday, January 9, at Crestview (5-5, 0-2 NWC).

On Saturday, Jan. 10 the Pirates play at Carey in a 5 p.m. tip-off. Van Buren plays next at BVC foe Leipsic.