PHOTOS by James Crawfis / CLICK to enlarge

By Cort Reynolds

KANSAS__The Bluffton High School boys basketball team saw its season come to an end at the hands of top-seeded Castalia Margaretta 55-30 in their Div. V Northwest 2 district final game on Friday, March 6 at Lakota High School.

Margaretta raced to a 15-2 lead after the first quarter and never trailed. The Polar Bears won a closer second stanza 15-8 to build a 30-10 halftime lead. Pirate Parker Lovell scored two baskets in the second period.

The Bears extended the margin to 52-19 heading to the fourth period behind a 22-9 third stanza despite Bean Ginther scoring five points for Bluffton. Hot-shooting Margaretta canned three triples among their eight baskets in the quarter.

The Pirates won the final period 11-3 as five different players scored. Austin Ginther sank the lone Bluffton three-pointer of the game in the fourth quarter.

The Pirates ended their season 11-14 after the defeat. 

Top district seed Castalia Margaretta improved to 22-3 with the decisive victory. The Polar Bears advance to the region 18 semifinals March 11 at Elida vs. undefeated Genoa Area (25-0).  

Pirate senior Bean Ginther netted seven of his nine markers in the second half. Junior Lovell tallied all six of his markers in the middle quarters.

Sophomore Lane Ginther, Austin Ginther and junior Owen Scoles each scored three points. Lane Ginther sank three of four shots from the charity stripe.

Bluffton freshman Brody Donley chipped in with four points. Robby Taylor added two.

The Polar Bears were led by Julian Washington, a 6-4 senior, with 13 points. Kale Bailey and Tyson Bailey each netted a dozen markers. Judah Keller added eight points.

Kale Bailey pumped in seven first-period points, while Tyson Bailey netted eight markers in the second quarter. Washington tallied eight and Keller scored six in their 22-point third stanza outburst.

It was the last Pirate game for seniors Bean Ginther, Kain Wright (injured) and Taylor.

The Pirates canned 11 two-pointers and knocked down just one triple. Bluffton converted five of nine foul shots (56 percent) at the charity stripe.

Margaretta sank 17 deuces and buried four treys. The Polar Bears sank nine of 14 free throws (64 percent).