Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

Raider girls advance in ACAC action
The Southern Wells Junior High School girls’ basketball teams advanced in the Allen County Athletic Conference tournament with second-round victories Wednesday evening against Adams Central.
The 7th-grade Raiders downed the Jets 29-24, while the 8th-grade Raiders riddled the Jets 33-8.
Michaela Smith scored 13 points to lead the 7th-grade Raiders. Ariana Forbis added 9, Lori Plummer 5 and Tori Weise 2.
Megan Lefebvre netted 12 points to power the 8th-grade Raiders. Brooke Penrod and Allison Blevins each added 4 points. Meghan Yencer, Lela Knowles, Timber Tucker, Savannah Deakyne and Shelby Skidmore all tallied 2 points. Kiara Leas contributed 1 point.

Crusader 8th-grade girls end season
The Norwell 8th-grade girls’ basketball team was eliminated from the Northeast Hoosier Middle Level Conference tournament Wednesday evening with a 37-27 second-round loss to Woodside at Norwell.
Hanna Smith scored 9 points and Liara Isnogle 8 to lead the Crusaders, who finished with a 13-3 record. Erika Thornton added 5 points, Chloie Williams 3 and Sarah Bauermeister 2. Smith and Thornton each grabbed 5 rebounds. Thornton also had 6 steals. Isnogle and Williams each had 3 steals.

Bluffton girls ousted from tourney
The Bluffton Middle School girls’ basketball teams exited the Allen County Athletic Conference tournament with second-round losses Wednesday evening against Leo.
The 7th-grade Tigers lost 32-13 to end up with a record of 9-8 overall and 5-1 in the ACAC season standings. The 8th-grade Tigers were nipped 23-21 to finish up at 10-7 and 4-2.
Shannon Penrod led the 7th-grade Tigers with 4 points. Caroline Mettler added 3, while Ashley Smith, Whitney Green and Branda Bywater each had 2 points.
Erin McKinley scored 9 points, Emma Thompson 8 and Lauren Stauffer 4 for the 8th-grade Tigers.
In first-round action, the 7th-grade Tigers ousted Heritage 30-22 and the 8th-grade Tigers booted the Patriots 29-20.
Penrod netted 12 points and Smith 10 against Heritage. Green added 6 and Bywater 2.
McKinley tallied 13 points for the 8th-graders. Thompson added 9, Janean Steffen 4 and Stauffer 3.

Season ends for Bluffton boys
The Bluffton Middle School boys’ basketball teams were knocked out of the Allen County Athletic Conference tournament with second-round losses Wednesday evening against Leo.
The 7th-grade Tigers lost 34-19 to end up with a record of 14-2 overall. They were season champions with a 6-0 mark. The 8th-grade Tigers fell 50-37, closing out the season at 11-8 and 5-1 in league play.
Aaron Sturgeon led the 7th-grade Tigers with 12 points. Grant Prible had 3, Dwayne Eskridge 2 and Jacob Ehle 2.
Javon Morgan finished with 15 points and Kevin Moser 11 to lead the 8th-grade Tigers. Noah Antrim added 8 and Dane Hoffman 3.