Bluffton favored in ACAC boys tourney; Jay County poses threat

Bluffton opened the Allen County Athletic Conference boys tournament as the clear team to beat, anchored by a physical inside presence in senior big man Declan Grieser and supported by versatile pieces including Gavin Grieser. Tournament projections placed Bluffton atop the bracket, with a likely path to the semifinals that included a potential showdown with Heritage.

Heritage and Jay County arrived as the primary challengers. Heritage leans on Kingston Galentine to create offense and pressure defenses, while Jay County’s balanced attack and size make them the most realistic challenger to Bluffton’s frontcourt edge. Woodlan is a team to watch as well, with Camden Brooks and Keaton Delagrange offering steady production and the kind of complementary play that can upset bracket expectations.

Bracket format and scheduling played a major role in how teams approached the event. Teams that earned byes gained a clear advantage in rest and preparation, while those facing midweek travel had to manage player minutes and bench rotation more carefully. Coaches who leaned on deeper benches were better equipped to handle the quick turnaround between games, and that depth looked likely to be a deciding factor in the later rounds.

The tournament’s physical matchups in the paint were the most discussed tactical element. Bluffton’s interior size demanded opponents decide whether to battle inside or try to pull the frontcourt away from the rim. Those choices had ripple effects on rebounding, transition opportunities, and foul trouble — all critical in a compressed schedule. Scouts and college coaches watching the ACAC paid special attention to players who could change the tone in the paint or stretch defenses from the wing.

Predictions entering the bracket favored higher seeds in opening-round matchups, with projected semifinal paths placing Bluffton and Heritage on the same side and Jay County advancing from the other. The preview forecast a final of Jay County versus Bluffton, with Bluffton favored to take the conference crown thanks to size, depth, and continuity.

For local fans and families, the tournament offered both immediate entertainment and a chance to scout postseason prospects. Expect the physical games around the basket to draw the most attention, and for teams with reliable bench production to outlast thinner rosters. As the ACAC moved toward semifinals and the sectional grind after that, Bluffton’s standing signaled both a target on their backs and a blueprint for opponents: win the battle on the boards, control the tempo, and force the Grieser brothers and supporting cast into uncomfortable situations.