By Cort Reynolds

PAULDING__The Bluffton High School girls basketball team went on the road and lost to former conference foe Paulding 64-42 on Saturday, January 10.

The Pirate girls dropped to 8-7 overall after the road defeat. The Panthers improved to 11-1 with the convincing victory.  

The Panther girls built an 18-9 lead after the first period. A 15-4 Paulding second stanza extended their advantage to a commanding 33-13 at intermission.  

Bluffton was only outscored 31-29 after intermission.  

Junior Greta Myers netted 15 points to pace Bluffton. She netted 10 of her points in the second half, including six in the fourth. 

Senior Macy Schaadt tallied nine points. Sophomore guard Maelee Miller added six points.

Tori Schlatter led the balanced Panthers with 15 points. Kayleigh Dunham, Estie Pease and Anya Mead each tallied 11 markers. Addi Pease added eight points.

Mead scored all 11 of her points in the third period on three baskets and 5-5 foul shooting. Ten of Schlatter’s markers came in the first half when the Panthers built a 20-point lead.

Bluffton connected on 13 deuces and knocked down two triples, one each by Myers and Camryn Fruchey. The Pirates converted 10 of 17 free throws (59 percent).

The Panthers canned 18 two-point goals and buried five treys. Paulding sank 13 of 17 free throws (76 percent).

UP NEXT
The Pirate girls host WBL foe Elida (8-5) on Tuesday, Jan. 13. 

Bluffton (1-1 NWC) then plays at struggling league foe Lima Central Catholic (2-10, 0-4 NWC) on Thursday, Jan. 15.

Spencerville leads the Northwest Conference standings at 4-0, followed by Columbus Grove at 3-0.