By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON - Host Bluffton jumped to an early lead and held off scrappy rival Ada to post a 57-45 Northwest Conference boys basketball victory Friday night.

The defeat dropped the Bulldog record to 4-14 overall and 0-6 in the NWC, while the Pirates improved to 9-9 and 4-2 in the NWC with the victory.

Bluffton ran out to an 8-0 lead behind two game-opening trifectas from freshman Luke Denecker, and never trailed.

Ada rallied within 17-15 at the end of the first period, but could never quite overtake the Pirates.

Bluffton began the second period with a 9-0 run to build a 28-19 halftime edge. A 9-1 Pirate flurry starting the second half extended the lead to 37-20.

The Bulldogs battled but never got closer than 11 points the rest of the way.

Ada senior Owen Conley led the Bulldogs with 15 points and 10 rebounds. 

Denecker paced three Pirates in doube figures with a game-high 17 points. Caleb Jefferson and Zane Meyers each added 13 markers for the hosts.

Ada sank 16 field goals, with six treys, and made half of their charity stripe attempts (7-14).

The Pirates canned 22 baskets, including five treys. The Bucs also converted just 50 percent at the stripe, converting eight of 16 from the foul line.

Ada 45 (4-14, 0-6 NWC)

Conley 6 2-4 15, Bailey 2 0-0 5, Swaney 2 0-0 6, Conrad 0, Evans 2 1-2 7, Mullins 0, Frazier 3 0-1 6, Hoschak 1 4-7 6. 

Totals: 16/7-14/45. 3-pointers: Conley 1, Evans 2, Swaney 2, Bailey 1. 

Bluffton 57 (9-9, 4-2 NWC)

Meyers 5 3-4 13, L. Denecker 5 3-6 17, G. Denecker 4 0-0 8, Jefferson 6 1-4 13, Kingsley 1 1-2 3, Bassett 1 0-0 3, Bricker 0.

Totals: 22/8-16/57. 3-pointers: L. Denecker 4, Bassett 1.

          1  2  3   4    F

Ada  15 4 11 15 45

Blu 17 11 13 16 57

The Bulldogs (2-6 home) host McComb in a non-league bout Saturday night, Feb. 11.