Neal leads Bluffton over Perry in boys basketball

PERRY TOWNSHIP - The leading task for Perry boys basketball team was to stop Bluffton point guard Tyler Neal. As the Commodores found out Tuesday, though, that's not so easy.

Neal drove the lane, spotted up for jumpers and drained a pair of 3-pointers. He took his lumps, gutted out a painful cramp in his left leg late in the game and led the Pirates to a 54-50 non-league victory.

The 5-foot-8 senior scored 23 points to lead all scorers. He put up 14 points in the second half and championed the Pirates' seemingly continuous comeback.

"He did a tremendous job," Bluffton coach Todd Boblitt said. "I couldn't be prouder of the kid. He's worked his tail off. Everything that is good that happens for him this year, he's worked so hard to get it."

Bluffton (1-1) fell down by six after one quarter, cut it to two points at halftime and trailed by one entering the fourth after taking the lead late in the third.

The Pirates, who had just five turnovers in the second half, took the lead for keeps with 3 minutes, 10 seconds remaining when junior Cory Hilty hit a shot in the post for a 48-46 advantage. Neal scored his final points on the next possession, banking in a left-handed shot after a nice backdoor cut for the 50-46 edge.

Perry twice cut the lead to two-points from there, but Spencer Tuttle hit a jumper with 20 seconds remaining and sophomore Levi Gleason hit a pair of free throws with 14 seconds on the clock to finish off Perry.

The Commodores had numerous chances to close out Bluffton and put the game out of reach, but they couldn't close the door.

"Until we can put a foot on somebody, and kick them while they're down, we're not going to put basketball games away," Perry coach Matt Tabler said. "With a veteran group like we have, we need to do it."

At halftime, Boblitt urged his team to take the ball to the hoop, either drawing a foul or converting the field goal. The Pirates took the advice and made 9 of 10 free throws in the fourth quarter; Neal hit 7 of 8.

Bluffton converted 14 of 16 free throws, compared to just 4 of 10 for Perry.

"We settled a little bit from outside on offense in the first half," Neal said. "We talked at halftime about attacking, getting to the basket."

Hilty joined with Gleason in the post to score 15 points after halftime. Hilty finished with 11 points and five rebounds while Gleason contributed 10 points and eight boards.

"We're still young and forming our identity," Boblitt said. "Those two guys really stepped up and did a nice job. They're working hard. It's nice to see it pay off for them early in the season."

Devonaire Johnson scored 16 points for Perry (1-1), hitting for eight points in the fourth. Davion Williams added 10 points before fouling out late in the game.

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