By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON__Pirate guard Marek Donaldson bombed in nine three-point goals to shoot the Bluffton High School boys basketball team over visiting Van Buren 81-54 in a non-conference blowout Saturday night, January 6.

Donaldson tied a school record for triples in a single game to augment his 36-point outburst.

The Pirates splashed 14 treys to dominate the Black Knights.

Bluffton improved to 8-1 overall after the decisive win. The Black Knights dropped to 1-8 overall with the loss.

Donaldson drained three treys in each of the first two periods to help build a 24-point cushion by intermission.

Bluffton led 20-9 after the first period as Donaldson scored 11 points. He poured in 12 more points in the second stanza to help the Pirates extend the lead to 47-23 at intermission.

Donaldson fired in 10 more points as Bluffton won the third period 20-16, stretching the margin to 28 heading to the fourth quarter. He added one more trey in the final period to finish with a career-high point total.

Blake Sommers contributed 12 points behind three first-half trifectas. Landen Worcester scored eight points, and John Paul-Yoder added seven. Ten Pirates scored in their balanced attack.

Parker Beilharz led VB with 18 points. Seth Gregory added a dozen markers.

The Black Knights made five turnovers, while the Pirates also committed five miscues.

Bluffton canned 15 two-pointers and drained a whopping 14 triples. The Pirates converted nine of 15 from the free throw line (60 percent).

VB connected on 13 two-point goals and nailed four triples.

The Knights converted 16 of 21 at the charity stripe (76 percent). 

Bluffton (2-0 NWC) visits Crestview (8-4, 1-1 NWC) next Friday in a key league tilt. The Pirates then travel to Ft. Jennings (3-7) Saturday for a non-league contest.

VB 54 (1-8)

Gregory 3 4-5 12, A. Homan 1 1-2 3, Harrington 0 2-2 2, Beilharz 6 5-6 18, Finn 2 2-3 6, Busey 1 0-0 2, J. Homan 4 2-3 11.

Totals: 13-4/16-21/54. 3-pointers:  Gregory 2, Beilharz 1.

Bluffton 81 (8-1)

Donaldson 13 1-2 36, B. Ginther 0 1-2 1, W. Ginther 1 0-0 2, Blk. Sommers 3 3-4 12, Bro. Sommers 2 0-0 4, Boblitt 2 0-0 4, Hilty 1 2-2 5, Worcester 3 1-2 8, Ker. Wright 1 0-0 2, Ka. Wright 0, Yoder 3 1-3 7.

Totals: 15-14/9-15/81. 3-pointers: Donaldson 9, Blk. Sommers 3, Worcester 1, Hilty 1.