an alley oop from Gillett
Friday night, the plan was to feed the ball down low and do business against the vertically challenged Spencerville Bearcats. The Pirates could not have started the game any better, as Levi Gleason scored on the first five Pirate possessions for a 10-0 lead. The Pirates led 14-2 after the first quarter and looked to be on their way to a NWC victory. But, Spencerville switched out of the customary man to man defense to a halfcourt zone trap in the second quarter. The move paid off as they held Bluffton to 30% shooting and forced four turnovers, trimming the halftime lead to 26-18.
SHS extended to full court pressure in the third and outscored the Pirates 13-8, forcing nine more Bluffton turnovers. BHS was still able to get inside and score as Gleason and Kyle Siefker combined to score three times in the lane. But momentum was on the Bearcats side as they completed their comeback quest and won the fourth quarter 24-12. Spencerville took their first lead with 4:30 left on an Eli Bowers three pointer and kept that lead safe, pushing it out to the final score of 55-46. Gleason ended the game with 19 and 8 rebounds and 4 blocks. Siefker added 10 points and 2 blocks. RJ Stratton scored six, Matt Gillett five, Michael Donley four and Tyler Breidenbach two.
Bluffton played the game without starting post man Cory Hilty, who will have season ending surgery on his knee this week. Cory has been valiantly playing all season on a torn ACL and PCL and will be missed down low.
The Pirates are now 2-8. Allen East comes to town Friday night before the Pirates travel to Fort Jennings on Saturday.
Click here for game photos from Troy Breidenbach
Tags: Levi Gleason, Cory Hilty, Kyle Siefker, Spencerville, Tyler Breidenbach, Matt Gillett, Michael Donley, RJ Stratton
Teams: Basketball (B)