The game began with four lead changes in the first eight minutes. Sophomore ALICIA AMIS(Woodstock/Mechanicsburg) got Bluffton on the board early with a layup to tie the game at two. Three possessions later sophomore guard BRITTANY STEGMAIER (Garfield/Trinity) nailed a three-pointer to give the Beavers a 5-2 lead four minutes into the game. The Panthers battled back to go ahead 6-5 on a MOLLY MARTIN jump shot with 14:50 left in the first half.

 

Bluffton and Hanover battled back and forth, and following a three-pointer by Hanover's TORIN FRANZ, senior forward GINNY BUCKINGHAM (Bluffton) got free in the paint to tie the game at nine. However, with 13:04 left in the first half, Hanover's LIZ SPARKS hit a layup to give Hanover a 13-10 lead and the Panthers never looked back. The home team ended the half on a 28-4 run, heading to the break with a commanding 45-18 lead over Bluffton.

 

The Beavers began the second period hoping to strike early to gain momentum. However, Hanover eradicated any hopes of a comeback by putting together a 23-7 run that capped a monstrous 51-11 jag that encompassed nearly twenty minutes. The Hanover spurt ended on a three-point shot by sophomore guard BECKY RUBLE (Grover Hill/Wayne Trace) which made the score 68-28 with 11 minutes left on the clock. The game ended with both Hanover and Bluffton chipping in 16 points apiece, making the final score 84-44 in favor of Hanover.

 

For the Beavers, senior GINNY BUCKINGHAM and sophomore ALICIA AMIS both pitched in six points with junior KIM MILLER (Delphos/St. John's) pulling down a team-high 10 rebounds. Bluffton's bench put up 22 points with sophomore guard KIRSTIE RUNION(Cincinnati/Cincinnati Christian) adding five points. The Beavers turned it over 23 times and made just 14-of-56 shots from the field (25.0 percent). Hanover won the battle on the glass (45-37).

 

The Panther offense was led by Molly Martin who lit up the scoreboard with 20 points, shooting 9-of-12 from the field. HOLLY VOGEL and TORIN FRANZ were also in double figures with Vogel dropping in 14 points and Franz helping out with 12 points, including 2-of-2 from three-point land. Molly Martin also led the way on the glass with 12 rebounds, giving her an impressive double-double effort in the win.

 

 

Up next on the slate is the Beavers' final road contest of the season. Bluffton travels to Manchester on February 10 at 7:30 p.m.