By Cort Reynolds
The Bluffton High School boys basketball team defeated Lima Central Catholic 58-42 in Div. III sectional final action at the Elida Fieldhouse Friday night, February 24.
Sophomore guard Marek Donaldson led the Pirates with 18 points in the win over the Thunderbirds.
Bluffton advances to a loaded district semifinals vs. Ottawa-Glandorf with a 16-8 record following the win. LCC ended its season 12-12 after the defeat.
Ranked number one in the state in Div. III, Ottawa-Glandorf (21-3) defeated Elmwood 71-29 to win their sectional easily in the second final at Elida Friday evening.
The sixth-seeded Pirates will face the top-seeded Titans Wednesday, March 1 at 6 p.m. at Lima Senior.
The district finals in the Spartans stadium will be Saturday evening, March 4.
Second seed Spencerville (20-2) and fourth seed Liberty-Benton (21-3)meet in the second Lima Senior district semifinal March 1.
L-B edged Carey 38-37 in their sectional final Friday, while the Bearcats hammered league foe Columbus Grove 66-47.
Donaldson swished a left wing trey to help the Pirates to an early lead vs the T-Birds.
Yet LCC junior Carson Parker tied the game 14-14 with a pull-up triple off the glass at the first quarter buzzer.
But Bluffton gradually pulled away to make their second straight district appearance. Landen Worcester executed a nice backdoor pass for a layup to give Bluffton the lead.
The Pirates led most of the way, by eight or more throughout much of the third period. With 4:40 to go, they held a 39-29 advantage.
A Worcester triple gave the Pirates an 11-point lead at 42-31 late in the third stanza.
The Pirates held onto a 46-36 margin with 5:25 left in the fourth period. Three minutes later, Bluffton still maintained a 10-point margin, up 50-40.
Donaldson splashed two foul shots late to help put the game well out of reach.
