Sophomore BRENT FARLEY (Lima/Shawnee) sparked the Bluffton offense with a jumper just 20 seconds into the game. By the 15:43 mark, sophomore guard NICK LEE (Mt. Blanchard/Vanlue) had drained two triples to put the Beavers up by four (8-4). Responding to a Yellow Jacket trifecta, MYCHAL HILL (London/Jon. Alder) went 2-for-2 at the charity stripe to make it 10-7.

 

At the 11:44 mark, freshman STEVE SWICK (Elida) drained a jumper to resurrect the Bluffton lead (16-14). A Hill layin put the Beavers up by four, until Defiance's ERIC STOLLY sank a three-pointer to give the Yellow Jackets the 19-18 edge. A Yellow Jacket jumper and freebie gave Defiance a three-point lead.

 

With 5:39 remaining in the first half, Hill found Lee outside the arc to cut the deficit to just one point. However, a 13-8 Yellow Jacket spurt gave Defiance the lead at half, despite a Hill jumper with just one second on the clock, as the Beavers trailed by four at the break, 37-33.

 

Freshman JOSH FISHER (Rockford/Parkway) ignited the Beavers with a jumper to start the second half action. At the 17:53 mark, Hill produced an old fashioned three-point play to bring the Beavers within one, 41-40. With just under 14 minutes remaining, a ROB LUDERMAN(Ayersville) jumper tied the contest at 44.

 

The Yellow Jackets continued on 24-14 run, capped by a NICK SALES layup that pushed the Defiance lead to double digits (68-58). With 54 seconds left Hill added two more to the Bluffton side, but the Yellow Jackets responded with a pair of freebies to finish with their 19th victory of the 2009-10 season as Defiance defeated the Bluffton men, 70-60.

 

Mychal Hill paced the visitors with 15 points, including three treys, and he dished out a game-high five assists. Josh Fisher and Nick Lee also hit for double digits with 11 points each. Both Fisher and senior JOSH EICHAR (North Baltimore) pulled down six off the glass, while Eichar tallied 10 points. The Bluffton men went 25-of-48 (52.1 percent) from the field, including 3-of-9 (33.3 percent) from deep, and 7-of-11 (63.6 percent) at the charity stripe.

 

Senior Nick Sales led the Yellow Jackets with a double-double, consisting of 25 points and 11 rebounds, in addition to three assists and three steals. LOGAN WOLFRUM and MIKE FLOYDhad 13 and 12 points, respectively, and both handed out three assists. Defiance hit 27-of-58 (46.6 percent) from the field, 5-of-16 (31.3 percent) from the arc, and 11-of-16 (68.8 percent) at the free throw line. The Yellow Jackets picked up six more off the glass (33-27) and committed nine fewer turnovers than the visitors (14-5).

 

 

The Jackets, who have qualified for the Heartland Conference post-season tournament, will play Franklin in regular-season action on Saturday, while Bluffton wrapped up its 2009-10 campaign with the 70-60 loss in the Weaner Center.