Basketball Game Preview: Start Spartans vs. Bluffton Pirates

The Start Spartans will head out to face off against the Bluffton Pirates at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. Both come into the match bolstered by wins in their previous matches.

Last Thursday, even if it wasn't a dominant performance, Start beat Toledo Christian 50-44. Given the Spartans' advantage in MaxPreps' Ohio basketball rankings (they are ranked 105th, while the Eagles are ranked 420th), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.

Bluffton got their first taste of in-conference action this week and they started things off strong. They blew past Lima Central Catholic 58-22 on Thursday. That 36 point margin sets a new team best for the Pirates this season.

Bluffton moved to 9-7 with that win, which also ended their three-game losing streak. As for Start, the victory made it two in a row for them and bumps their season record up to 13-2.