By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON - Host Bluffton ended the first half on a 19-3 run and cruised to a 60-30 win over local rival Ada in the Northwest Conference boys basketball season finale Friday night.  

The purple and gold finish the regular season 4-18 overall and 2-6 in the NWC with the defeat. Meanwhile, the Pirates improved to 10-12 and 4-4 in league play after the victory.  

"We did not come ready to play," said Ada second-year head coach Dre White.

The foes battled to an early 7-7 tie through most of a defensive-oriented first period. Bluffton then netted two field goals, the second on a transition layup by Dakota Bricker after a turnover, to break the deadlock and end the opening stanza up by four.

The Pirates then ran off 13 unanswered points to start the second quarter, capping a 17-0 spurt as they built a commanding 24-7 cushion.

Pirate sophomore Jared Piercefield tallied eight points in the second stanza run, while classmate Mason Soper contributed a corner trifecta.

A long three-pointer by senior guard Ethan Swaney ended a nine-minute drought by Ada. A layup from Pirate senior Joel Piercefield gave Bluffton a 26-10 edge at intermission.

The Pirates outscored Ada 15-3 in the decisive second quarter.

Ada senior post Seven Williams canned two long deuces early in the second half. Pirate Mason Ault nailed an 18-footer to give the hosts a 33-14 bulge.

Bulldog junior Connor Frazier sank a layup from a Williams feed, yet Piercefield buried a triple. Ada sophomore Phillip Coulson splashed a trey to cut the deficit to 36-19 with 2:28 to go in the third period.

An old-fashioned three-point play by Ault gave Bluffton a 20-point margin heading to the final quarter.

Pirate senior Kaleb Jefferson netted three baskets to start the fourth stanza. Soper buried a triple to extend the lead to 50-21. Ada stopped the 14-2 Pirate flurry with a triple by Bulldog junior reserve Xavier Hollinger.

A putback by freshman Zac Swaney, and an Austin Amburgey layup from Kyle Zimmerly got Ada within 52-28. Zimmerly added a basket as the Pirates ran off eight of the last 10 points to finish the contest with their biggest lead of 30.

Turnovers hurt Ada as the Bulldogs committed 16 miscues while Bluffton made just six errors.

Piercefield led all scorers with 20 points. Soper contributed 14 points and Jefferson added 11 markers. Williams topped Ada with six points.

The Bulldog junior varsity lost a 44-42 nailbiter to finish 11-9.

Ada 30 (4-18, 2-6 NWC)

E. Swaney 2 0-0 5, Frazier 1 2-2 4, Coulson 1 1-2 4, Conley 0, Williams 3 0-0 6, Mullins 0 2-2 2, Jordan 0, Zimmerly 1 0-0 2, Amburgey 1 0-0 2, Z. Swaney 1 0-0 2, Hollinger 1 0-0 3.

Totals: 11/5-6/30. 3-pointers: E. Swaney 1, Coulson 1, Hollinger 1.

Bluffton 60 (10-12, 4-4 NWC)

Jo. Piercefield 1 0-0 2, Ja. Piercefield 5 8-9 20, Jefferson 5 1-2 11, Ault 2 1-3 5, Soper 5 2-2 14, Fruchey 1 0-0 3, Bricker 1 1-2 3, Garmatter 0 2-2 2.

Totals: 20/15-20/60. 3-pointers: Ja. Piercefield 2, Soper 2, Fruchey 1.

1 2 3 4 F

Ada 7 3 9 11 30

Bluf 11 15 13 21 60

JV: Bluffton 44, Ada 42.

Ada plays Waynesfield (6-16) at Bath in the sectional semifinals Tuesday, February 27. Tip-off is at 6:15 p.m. The winner advances to face tough St. Henry (19-3) at Coldwater March 2 in the sectional finals.

The Bulldogs lost at Waynesfield 62-56 back on December 29.

"Waynesfield is going to be excited to play, and they will come in confident," said White. "We must find a way to match that intensity. It should be a battle."