By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON__The Bluffton High School boys basketball team responded to a big halftime deficit with a second-half outburst to defeat visiting local rival Allen East 52-44 in the Northwest Conference finale on Friday, February 13.

AE led 24-13 at intermission, but the Pirates exploded for 39 points in the second half to win by eight.

Pirate freshman guard Brody Donley poured in 14 of his game-high 18 points in the second half to help spearhead the comeback victory. He canned two triples and made all three of his foul shots as Bluffton won the fourth period, 22-14.

The Pirates sank 12 of 15 foul shots in the final stanza to help put the Mustangs away.

Bean and Lane Ginther each tallied six points in the third period, while Donley scored five, as the Pirates rallied to seize the momentum with a 17-6 quarter out of the locker room.

The turnaround stanza tied the game 30-30 after three periods.

The Pirates trailed 15-8 after the opening period as AE nailed three trifectas. Bluffton could only muster two baskets in the second quarter, one a triple by Bean Ginther, to fall behind by 11 at the half.

The Pirates improved to 9-12 overall and finished 1-6 in the NWC after the home win to tie Delphos Jefferson for seventh place. 

Lincolnview won the NWC title outright with a 6-1 league record.

AE dropped to 13-8 overall and ended up 4-3 in NWC play after the road defeat.  

Lane and Bean Ginther scored 13 points apiece, while Parker Lovell added eight markers. Six of Lovell’s eight came in the decisive final quarter. Four Pirates accounted for all 52 of their points.

Senior guard Brady Brooks led AE with 14 points. He scored nine points in the second half. Junior Keagan Jones netted 13 markers, including two treys. 

Junior Ethan Hershberger tallied seven points, and sophomore Braxston Montgomery added six.

The Pirates connected on 13 two-point goals and buried four triples. Bluffton converted 14 of 18 shots from the charity stripe (78 percent).

AE canned 11 deuces and drained four trifectas. The Mustangs sank 10 of 13 foul shots (77 percent).

Pirate head coach Todd Boblitt earned his milestone 250^th win at Bluffton in the win over Elida on Tuesday. He is the winningest coach in program history.

Bluffton concludes its regular season at home vs. Green Meadows Conference leader Paulding (16-4) next Friday, Feb. 20. The Panthers beat Defiance Tinora 62-46 Friday.