In a January 20 non-conference match-up between two of the top DIV in the area, the Pandora-Gilboa High School boy’s basketball team (12-2) ended up on the short end of a 57-48 loss to the Delphos St. John’s Bluejays (11-2).
BLUFFTON__The Bluffton High School boys basketball team blasted visiting Leipsic 79-43 in a Northwest Conference matchup on Friday, January 19, to earn their ninth consecutive win.
A 33-point Pirate outburst in the third period buried the Vikings. A 33-10 edge in the decisive stanza blew open a previously competitive 31-23 game at halftime.
Bluffton outscored Leipsic 48-20 after intermission to win going away.
The Pirates led 16-8 after the first quarter, and the hosts maintained that eight-point advantage at intermission.
Bluffton improved to 11-1 overall and 4-0 in the NWC to stay alone atop the league after the blowout win. The Vikings fell to 7-6 and 2-2 in the NWC with the lopsided loss.
Spencerville (9-3) is second in the NWC standings at 3-0, followed by Allen East (2-1).
The Pandora-Gilboa High School boys basketball team suffered their first loss of the season on January 19, as late cold shooting contributed to the 48-46 home setback to Arlington (8-4, 3-1 BVC) in Blanchard Valley Conference action.
LEIPSIC__The visiting Bluffton High School girls basketball team fell victim to a hot-shooting Leipsic in the first half and lost 51-39 on Thursday evening, January 18.
Viking senior Leah Kirkendall scored all 13 of her points in the first half, sinking three triples, to shoot Leipsic into a 12-point intermission cushion.
Junior post Ayla Grandey drained two triples in the first period to keep Bluffton within 16-13. But a 16-7 second stanza behind four trifectas lifted Leipsic to a 32-20 halftime lead.
BLUFFTON__The Bluffton High School girls basketball team outscored visiting non-conference rival Elida by 14 in the second half to pave the way for a 49-37 win Tuesday evening, January 16.
The Pirate girls trailed 20-18 at halftime, but seized a 31-25 after a 13-5 third period. Macy Schaadt canned two key triples in the turnaround stanza.
Schaadt tallied six more points in the fourth period as Bluffton won the final quarter, 18-12. Ayla Grandey added four of her game-high 16 points in the final period.
The Pirate duo combined for 30 points as Schaadt netted 12 of her 14 markers after intermission.
The Pirates improved to 6-7 with the win, while the Bulldog girls dropped to 3-11 after the loss.
Women’s Basketball hammers Yellow Jackets 81-54
(January 10) DEFIANCE__The Bluffton University women's basketball team used a 27-13 third quarter to keep Defiance College winless (0-14, 0-7 HCAC) with an 81-54 victory over the Yellow Jackets on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024. Bluffton improved to 5-9 and 3-4 in the conference with its second straight victory.
