By Cort Reynolds

The Bluffton High School boys basketball team defeated Lincolnview 76-43 in a Northwest Conference mismatch Friday night, January 20.

The Pirates raced to a 20-8 lead after the first period, and extended the margin to 26 at 40-14 by intermission.

Bluffton also won the second half, 36-29.

Eight Pirates scored, with three in double figures and two others netting nine points.

Wade Ginther topped Bluffton with 17 points. 

Pirate sophomore Marek Donaldson tallied 14 points, and senior Carson Soper added 10 markers.

Branson Hilty and John-Paul Yoder each contributed nine points.

Bluffton improved to 8-5 overall and 4-1 in the NWC with the lopsided win. Lincolnview fell to 1-13 and 0-4 in the NWC after the defeat.

Pirates Landen Worcester and Terron Boblitt both netted six points on a pair of triples.

Boblitt drained two triples in the first period, as did Donaldson, to lead the early Pirate onslaught.

Bluffton connected on 28 field goals. They notched 18 baskets inside the arc, while they also splashed 10 three-point goals. 

Bluffton converted 10 of 13 attempts at the foul line (77 percent).

The Lancers canned 19 shots from the field, making 16 two-point goals but just three treys. The Pirates outscored them 30-nine from beyond the arc.

The visitors converted only two of seven shots from the charity stripe (29 percent). 

The Pirates committed only five turnovers, and the Lancers made 10 miscues.

Lincolnview 43 (1-13, 0-4 NWC)

Tow 5 0-0 11, Evans 4 2-3 11, Bockrath 3 0-0 6, Overholt 1 0-0 2, Cox 2 0-0 5, Jessee 2 0-2 4, Kill 0 0-2 0, Friedrich 2 0-0 4.

Totals: 16-3/2-7/43. 3-pointers: Evans 1, Tow 1, Cox 1.

Bluffton 76 (8-5, 4-1 NWC)

Donaldson 4 4-4 14, L. Ginther 2 0-0 5, Soper 4 2-3 10, W. Ginther 6 3-4 17, Worcester 2 0-0 6, Boblitt 2 0-0 6, Wright 0, Yoder 4 1-2 9, Hilty 4 0-0 9. 

Totals: 18-10/10-13/76. 3-pointers: Donaldson 2, W. Ginther 2, Boblitt 2, Worcester 2, Hilty 1, L. Ginther 1.

1 2 3 4 F

Lincolnview 8 6 18 11 43

Bluffton 20 20 21 15 76

Tied for second with Crestview at 4-1 in the NWC, the defending champion Pirates play at league leader Spencerville (13-1, 4-0 NWC) Friday, January 27. 

The Bearcats trounced Columbus Grove 61-37 Friday to stay atop the conference as the lone remaining unbeaten team.

Bluffton visits tough non-league local foe Pandora-Gilboa (11-3) Saturday, Jan. 28.