HARROD - The visiting Bluffton High School boys basketball team broke away late to beat local Northwest Conference rival Allen East 54-45 on February 14 in the league finale.
The Pirates improved to 14-7 overall and finished 3-4 in the NWC play after the big win. Columbus Grove and Spencerville shared the league title at 6-1. Bluffton came in fifth in the eight-team standings.
Allen East fell to 10-11 overall and ended up 2-5 in NWC action after the loss. Crestview and LCC tied for third in the league at 5-2.
BOWLING GREEN – Several Bluffton swimmers competed in the Div. II district meet at Bowling Green State University on Friday, February 14, with one winning a title.
Pirate junior Jackson Bowlus captured the 100-yard backstroke in 53.21 by .20 to qualify for the state meet. Bowlus also touched seventh in the boys 50 freestyle.
Junior Jenna Downey took third in the 100 butterfly, and came home ninth in the 50 freestyle.
Senior Xavier Diller touched ninth in the 100 butterfly (57.2). Freshman Kari Diller came in ninth in the 100 backstroke.
The Pirate girls 200 medley relay team finished eighth. The Bluffton girls 400 free relay quartet came in 13th.
The Bluffton boys 200 medley relay finished a solid sixth. The Pirate 400 free relay quartet came in 10th. The boys 200 free relay foursome ended up 18th.
BATH – The visiting Bluffton High School girls basketball team beat non-conference foe Bath in a defensive struggle 36-26 Monday, February 10.
The game was postponed from Saturday due to icy road conditions.
The Pirates led 12-6 after the first period as Ayla Grandey and Macy Schaadt each scored five points. A 6-5 second stanza gave Bluffton an 18-11 lead at halftime.
Bluffton won the third period 10-7 to extend their margin to 28-18 heading to the final period of play. Both teams mustered eight points in the fourth quarter as Bath was unable to make a dent in the Pirate advantage.
Bluffton finished the regular season 13-9 after the victory. Bath ended up 9-13 with the defeat.
Pirate senior post Grandey led Bluffton with 17 points on eight baskets and 1-1 foul shooting. She scored at least four points in all four periods.
Schaadt netted 13 points and sank the lone Pirate trifecta.
Bluffton University has named Ryan Turner as its next head golf coach.
Turner brings more than 16 years of experience in the golf industry, coaching and teaching students from diverse backgrounds. Turner brings extensive knowledge of NCAA rules, regulations and recruiting strategies.
