February 2023

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By Cort Reynolds

HARROD–The visiting Bluffton High School boys basketball team rallied with a big fourth quarter to defeat backyard rival Allen East 61-54 in a Northwest Conference battle Friday, February 10.

Bluffton trailed AE 48-39 heading to the final period.

But the Pirates stunned AE with a 22-6 fourth quarter to pull out the seven-point win.

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By Cort Reynolds

The Bluffton High School boys basketball team defeated visiting non-league foe Kenton 61-41 Saturday, February 11, to complete a 2-0 weekend, scoring 61 points in both wins.

Marek Donaldson drained five three-point goals to lead the Pirates to victory with 17 points. 

Bluffton led 12-10 after the opening period, but blew the game open with a 20-8 second stanza. Donaldson canned two triples in each of the first two quarters.

The Wildcats pulled within 39-31 behind a 13-7 third quarter. 

But a big 22-point Pirate fourth period for the second straight night put the game well out of reach.

Bluffton canned 10 of 11 foul shots in the final stanza.

Pirate post John-Paul Yoder tallied 13 points for the second straight game. Wade Ginther and Carson Soper each tallied seven points, and Landen Worcester added six points.

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By Matt M. Stutz

What a way for Rockets players Jake Maag and Derek Maag to celebrate their senior night at the Pandora-Gilboa Launch Pad: the Rockets overwhelmed Fort Jennings in Putnam County League boys basketball action, 63-40, on February 11. With the win, P-G finished the regular season undefeated on the home floor.

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By Fred Steiner
www.BlufftonForever.com

Just in time for Super Bowl Sunday.

Here’s a Bluffton hometown classic football story.

It’s Spike Berry’s version of something that only happens in movies–except this one is true. If you don’t believe us, ask Spike.

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Pirates finish 7th in league

By Cort Reynolds

SPENCERVILLE – Bluffton High School sophomore Jett Blackburn won the 138 lbs. division title at the Northwest Conference championship meet in Spencerville Friday night, February 10, as the Pirate wrestling team finished seventh out of eight.

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By Michael Flores, PhD
Big Lots Outpatient Behavioral Health
Nationwide Children’s Hospital

*Through a collaboration between Blanchard Valley Health System and Nationwide Children’s Hospital, the content of this article was provided courtesy of Nationwide’s 700 Children’s® blog by pediatric experts.

Defiant behavior among toddlers and young children (commonly known as “the terrible twos”) is a normal phase of child development. Children might throw temper tantrums or have rapid mood changes. They want to do things by themselves. Their favorite word is “no.” Similar developmentally appropriate behavior often shows up again during the teen years. Teens may rebel against household rules or act frustrated or angry. Some of this behavior stems from hormonal changes associated with puberty, as their bodies and minds develop.

Temper tantrums are usually triggered when a child is frustrated, tired or hungry. As children learn more appropriate ways to communicate their wants and needs, and when clear limits and behavioral expectations are consistently set, these outbursts tend to become less frequent. However, some children continue to struggle with aggressive or impulsive behavior. Sometimes these actions may pose a threat to their safety or the safety of others. For some people, the behaviors can continue through childhood and even into adulthood.

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TERRE HAUTE, Ind.--The Bluffton University men's and women's swimming teams kicked off the 2023 Heartland Conference Championship with a pair of swimmers in the 50-yard freestyle on Thursday, Feb. 9.

Just missing a top-5 spot in the Bluffton record books by a mere one hundredth of a second, freshman Riley Bruns (Maria Stein/Marion Local) took 22nd with a 25.04 at Vigo Schools Aquatic Center on Thursday.

Also placing 22nd, but on the women's side, was another freshman, Sydney Grisier (Bryan). She hit the finish at 32.27.

Bluffton will be back in the pool on Friday, February 17, when Grisier and Bruns both tackle the 100-yard breaststroke and Grisier goes off the 1-meter diving board.

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Make designating a sober driver your game plan this Super Bowl Sunday

COLUMBUS–As people gather for Super Bowl parties on Sunday, the Ohio State Highway Patrol urges fans to refrain from driving impaired. If you plan on consuming alcohol, don’t drive and plan ahead to designate a sober driver.

In an effort to keep our roadways safe this Super Bowl Sunday, troopers will be cracking down on impaired drivers. You can do your part by reminding friends and family that Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk.

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By Matt M. Stutz

The Pandora-Gilboa High School boys basketball team hosted the McComb Panthers Friday evening February 10 at the Launch Pad for their final Blanchard Valley Conference game of the season. 

In a game that started out slow, Pandora-Gilboa kept up the defensive pressure, limiting McComb to single digit scoring in each of the first three quarters of action, propelling them to a 64-36 BVC win.

Following a 11-7 first quarter lead, the Rockets slowly pulled away, going up by ten at halftime, 26-16.  

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By Cort Reynolds

Playing at home, the Bluffton High School girls basketball team lost to local rival Allen East 47-35 in the Northwest Conference regular season finale Thursday evening, February 9.

Bluffton finished its regular season 13-9 overall and ended up 1-7 in the NWC with the loss, good for eighth place in the league.

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