By Cort Reynolds
BLUFFTON - The host Bluffton boys basketball team outscored Continental 29-10 Tuesday night en route to a convincing 68-40 win.
The non-league game was scheduled after Continental was set to compete in the annual four-team Bluffton McDonald's Holiday Tournament, which was cancelled.
The host Pirates led just 19-18 after a high-scoring first period behind Kyler Kinn's eight points. Bluffton extended the margin to 39-30 at intermisson as Trenton Donley drained two second-quarter triples.
Bluffton then blew the game open by limiting Continental to just one point in the third quarter. Donley scored six points and Trey Boblitt added five as the hosts advanced the margin to 52-31 by holding the opposition without a basket in a 13-1 period.
The victors captured the final stanza 16-9 to win going away by 28.
Bluffton improved to 3-2 overall with the lopsided triumph and will host Arlington (3-2) Wednesday night instead of the tournament final. Continental dropped to 3-6 with the defeat.
Donley led Bluffton with 15 points, while Kinn added 14. Boblitt netted a dozen markers and Nate Schaadt tallied 11.
Mitchell Coleman of Continental led all scorers with 19 points.
Bluffton connected on 10 more field goals than Continental . The hosts sank 10 bombs from three-point territory, and hit 13 shots from two-point range.
Bluffton converted 12 of 20 free throws (60 percent).
Continental canned seven of nine attempts from the charity stripe (78 percent).
The visiting Pirates canned just six baskets inside the arc, and hit seven shots from three-point territory.
Bluffton committed only nine turnovers.
Continental 40 (3-6)
Huff 1 0-0 2, Davis 0, Coleman 5 4-4 19, Armey 2 0-0 4, Williams 1 1-2 3, Hoeffel 2 2-2 8, Warnemont 1 0-0 2, Sheets 0 0-1 0, Recker 1 0-0 2.
Totals: 6-7/7-9/40. 3-pointers: Coleman 5, Hoeffel 2.
Bluffton 68 (3-2)
Donley 5 1-1 15, T. Shutler 2 0-2 4, Ginther 1 0-0 2, Kinn 5 2-4 14, Boblitt 4 2-2 12, Schaadt 3 3-6 11, Soper 1 2-2 4, L. Shutler 0 2-2 2, Essinger 2 0-1 4.
Totals: 13-10/12-20/68. 3-pointers: Donley 4, Kinn 2, Boblitt 2, Schaadt 2.
1 2 3 4 F
Cont 18 12 1 9 40
Bluf 19 20 13 16 68
The Pirates host Arlington in lieu of night two of the annual Holiday Tournament Wednesday, Dec. 30.
They are then slated to visit traditional power Ottawa-Glandorf (7-1) Saturday, January 2. O-G is 1-1 at home and 6-0 on the road.
Bluffton is 2-1 at home and 1-1 on the road so far this season.
