Crestview’s Kellin Putman pursues Bluffton’s Terron Boblitt during Friday night’s game at Bluffton.
Jackelyn Johnson | The Lima News
BLUFFTON — Crestview boys basketball head coach Doug Etzler knew Bluffton was going to try to take away his shooters.
Unfortunately for Bluffton, Crestview has more than a couple shooters to contend with.
In Friday night’s key Northwest Conference boys basketball matchup at Bluffton, Crestview’s balanced scoring attack and tenacious defensive pressure, paved the way for a hard-fought 55-45 victory over Bluffton.
In was a tightly-contested game for the first three quarters.
However, in the final eight minutes of action, Crestview’s defensive pressure took over, which led to several transition baskets for the Knights.
“Defense is what we try to hang our hat on; and they (Bluffton) shot the ball so well in the first half,” Etzler said. “When we got up in them, defensively, they got to the rim so well. I thought in the fourth quarter, we really dug in (defensively). Obviously, we hit some shots. … I think that carried over to our defense, too. We guarded really well in that fourth quarter.”
Mitch Temple led Crestview (8-1, 2-1 NWC) and all scorers with 17 points, including three 3-pointers. Temple also pulled down five rebounds and dished out two assists. Wren Sheets, a 6-foot-6 sophomore post player, had 15 points, nine rebounds and a block.
“They face-guarded Nate Lichtle (five points, four rebounds). … They face-guarded Gavin (Etzler, three points),” Coach Etzler said. “I think our team is balanced enough, that it’s hard to do that and not give up open shots to other guys. We have other guys who can make shots.
“Obviously, we wanted to get it to Wren (Sheets) as much as we could. Mitch stepped up and hit some shots early, to get us going. Each night with our guys, it’s someone else. As long as we take good shots, I think we’re going to be good, offensively.”
Wade Ginther led Bluffton (5-4, 2-1 NWC) with 12 points. Carson Soper had 11 points, including three 3-pointers. Soper also came away with five boards and three steals. Marek Donaldson scored nine points, on three shots behind the 3-point line for the Pirates.
Crestview opened the contest on a 12-2 run. Bluffton battled back. However, the Knights pulled out to an 18-11 lead by the end of the first quarter.
Temple scored eight points in the first eight minutes of action for the Knights, including two 3-pointers.
Ginther led the way for Bluffton in the first quarter, scoring eight points on 4 of 5 shooting from the floor.
The Pirates came roaring back.
A little more than a minute into the second quarter, Soper hit a 3-pointer for Bluffton to cut the deficit to one, 18-17.
At the 4:51 mark of the second stanza, Ginther scored inside to give the Pirates a 19-18 lead.
Bluffton led five more times in the second quarter before slipping out with a 30-29 advantage by the halftime break. Soper hit a deep 3-pointer right before the halftime buzzer.
Ginther led Bluffton in the first half with 10 points. Soper added eight first-half points, including two 3-pointers.
The Pirates had the hot hand in the second quarter, connecting on 8 of 11 shots from the field. For the half, Bluffton was 13 of 22 from the floor for 59-percent shooting.
Temple led Crestview in the first half with 10 points, including two treys. The Knights were 12 of 25 from the field for 48-percent shooting.
Crestview led 41-40 at the end of the third.
The Knights opened the fourth quarter on an 8-0 run. Temple and Lichtle each had a 3-pointer during that stretch.
Bluffton was unable to respond.
For the game, Crestview shot 50 percent from the field. Bluffton connected on 47 percent of its field goal attempts.
Crestview committed nine turnovers. Bluffton turned it over 12 times on the night, including six miscues in the fourth quarter.
Crestview won the boards, 27-18.
“It was a game of give-and-take,” Etzler said. “We got it going a little in the fourth quarter to get a little separation. That put a little pressure on them to have to score. I give our guys credit for really digging in.”
Mark Altstaetter wrote this story for LimaScores.com. Reach The Lima News sports department at 567-242-0451.
