By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON__The Bluffton High School girls basketball team ran into a first-period buzzsaw and lost 68-49 to visiting non-conference foe Elida on Tuesday, January 13.

The Bulldog girls raced to a 28-10 lead after the first period and basically maintained that edge the rest of the game. 

Elida’s one-two punch of junior wing Lilly Sifrit and senior post Emma Mitchell poured in 10 first-quarter points apiece as the Bulldogs erupted for 28 points in the first eight minutes.

A 14-14 second stanza kept the Pirate deficit at 18 as they trailed 42-24 at intermission. Sophomore Keyrsten Kleman tallied all nine of her points in the second period, including a triple, to keep the Pirates alive. 

Teammate Ellie Bogart also nailed a three-pointer in the second stanza.

Elida extended its cushion to 56-35 after three quarters following a 14-11 period. The Pirates won the fourth stanza 14-12 as Greta Myers tallied six points.

Bluffton was only outscored 26-25 after intermission.  

The Pirate girls dropped to 8-8 overall after the defeat. The Bulldogs improved to 9-5 with the win.

Sophomore guard Maelee Miller led the Pirates with 14 points, while junior Myers netted a dozen markers.

Senior Macy Schaadt tallied five markers, and Taylin Goldman added four.

Sifrit pumped in 16 of her game-high 24 points in the first half. She also pulled down 11 rebounds. The 6-3 Mitchell contributed 15 points. Bulldogs Lexie Good and Shaelynn Rager each added nine points.

Bluffton connected on 17 deuces and buried three triples. The Pirates converted six of 13 free throws (46 percent).

The Bulldogs canned 26 two-point goals and knocked down a pair of treys. Elida sank 10 of 16 free throws (63 percent).

UP NEXT

The Pirate girls (1-1 NWC) play at last-place league foe Lima Central Catholic (2-11, 0-4 NWC) on Thursday, Jan. 15.

Spencerville leads the Northwest Conference standings at 4-0, followed by Columbus Grove at 3-0 and Crestview (2-2). Allen East, Bluffton and Lincolnview are all tied in fourth place at 1-1 in NWC play.