By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON – Playing at home, the Bluffton High School boys basketball team lost 70-64 to Northwest Conference foe Crestview in a key league game on Friday, January 10.

The Pirates dropped to 8-2 overall and 1-1 in the NWC with the loss. Crestview improved to 9-3 overall and 2-1 in NWC play after the road win.

Guard Marek Donaldson led three Pirates in double figures with 17 points. Kain Wright tallied 16 markers, while Bean Ginther contributed 14 points. 

Bluffton senior Terron Boblitt added nine points on three triples.

Knight Wren Sheets poured in a game-high 27 points to lead Crestview to victory. He tallied 13 crucial markers in the high-scoring 25-24 fourth quarter to help keep the Pirate comeback hopes at bay.

Bluffton trailed 22-17 after the first period, and was behind 31-27 at halftime. The Pirates were nipped 14-13 in the third quarter, but remained within striking distance down 45-40 heading to the final stanza. Donaldson scored seven points in the third period, while Boblitt and Wright each hit a triple, to keep Bluffton close.

Wright poured in nine fourth-quarter points, while Donaldson netted eight. But the Pirates could not overcome the duo of Sheets and Hayden Parrott, who combined for 45 points for the Knights.  

Perrott scored eight of his 18 points in the tight fourth period to support Sheets. Crestview hit 10 of 17 foul shots in the final stanza.

Bluffton canned 18 deuces and splashed six triples. The Pirates converted 10 of 16 free throws (63 percent).

Crestview connected on 22 two-point goals and drained five treys. The Knights canned 15 of 23 foul shots (65 percent). 

Bluffton was outscored by five points at the charity stripe and by eight on two-pointers. They held a three-point edge in triples.

The Pirates host Northern 10 Conference foe Carey (3-7) Saturday evening, Jan. 11 with the JV tipping off at 5 p.m. Carey lost at home to 9-2 Upper Sandusky Friday, 61-50.