Sports

By Cort Reynolds

SMITHVILLE – The Bluffton High School boys basketball team lost 60-47 to Aliquippa, Pa. in the fourth edition of the “Battle of the Berkey” series Sunday, February 2, at Smithville’s Wilbur Berkey Fieldhouse.

The two-day, 12-game series started out four years ago as a weekend of contests pitting top western Ohio teams vs. top eastern Ohio squads of similar size and talent. 

Now the northeast Ohio event has evolved to include out-of-state schools such as Aliquippa, which is in western Pennsylvania, and Newport, Ky. 

By Cort Reynolds

SPENCERVILLE – The visiting Bluffton High School boys basketball team lost a 48-45 heartbreaker to Northwest Conference leader Spencerville Friday, January 31, in a key league contest.

Bearcat sophomore Will Sensabaugh nailed a three-pointer at the final buzzer to complete a late rally and win the game. He scored a game-high 25 points.

Spencerville outscored the Pirates 18-6 in the fourth quarter to overcome a nine-point deficit and win.

By Cort Reynolds

The visiting Bluffton varsity bowling team outscored Miller City 2,738 pins to 2,505 pins on January 30.

The win improved the Pirate record to 7-2.

Bluffton won round one with a consistent 890-888=1,778 two-game series. MC rolled an 844-812-1,656 two-game set.

High games for the Pirates were rolled by Coby Dailey (232) and Matt Piehl (206). Wildcat Lucas Klear bowled a 213, while teammate Branden Reynolds shot a 203 high game.

The Pirates entered the Baker Series with a 122-pin lead. Bluffton rolled 192-215-180-215-158=960 Baker set to win round two by 111 pins.

MC bowled a 177-202-179-142-149=849 Baker Series.

“We had a strong performance from our varsity,” said Pirate head coach Ben Nye. “Coby Dailey had his high game and series of the season with a 232 and 426 (total). 

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By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON – The Bluffton High School girls basketball team overcame a frigid start to defeat visiting Northwest Conference rival Spencerville 43-35 Thursday, January 30.

The Pirates trailed 4-2 after a very low-scoring first period. But they outscored the Bearcats 16-8 in the second stanza to take an 18-12 lead at halftime.

Bluffton then outscored the visitors 25-23 in the second half to secure an eight-point victory. 

Bluffton improved to 12-8 overall and 4-2 in the NWC after recording their third straight victory.  

Spencerville fell to 10-9 overall and 2-4 in NWC play with the defeat.

Macy Schaadt scored five points in each of the final three periods to tally a game-high 15 markers for the victors.  

Pirate senior post Ayla Grandey tallied a dozen points, including eight in the key second quarter.

Junior Blair Utendorf scored eight points, all in the second half. Maelee Miller contributed five markers. 

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By Cort Reynolds

BLOOMDALE – The visiting Bluffton High School boys basketball team decisively defeated non-conference foe Elmwood 63-27 Wednesday, January 29, in a makeup game.

The Pirates nailed four three-pointers in the first period to build a 15-2 lead. Bluffton stretched the lead to a commanding 30-7 margin by halftime. Bluffton outscored Elmwood 33-20 after intermission.

Four Pirates scored 10 points apiece to pace the romp. 

Guard Marek Donaldson nailed two triples as he scored 10 points. Kain Wright tallied 10 points. Terron Boblitt canned three triples to score 10 markers. He netted seven points and two triples in the opening stanza.

Brody Sommers also netted 10 markers. Blake Sommers added nine points.
The Pirates improved to 12-4 overall with the blowout win. Elmwood fell to 4-11 after the defeat.

Owen Traxler led Elmwood with nine points.

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