Morgan Heads Junior-Dominated Team for Lady Bucks
by Jim Morgan
FARWELL – Last year the Bucktail Lady Bucks started with four sophomores and finished with a 9-13 record and as all of those players are returning with at least one year of varsity experience. Hopes are high.
Those returning starters are juniors this year in Tiffany Wertz, Alaina Tripp, Natasha Peck and the leader of the team Maria Morgan.
Also back is senior Hannah Shearer and the coaches note she has shown good hustle in practice.
Head coach Carl Gentzyel and new assistant Jim Morgan are very excited about the 2013-14 season as they are looking at a starting five unit all with varisty experience.
Gentzyel said, “Werts and Shearer have shown improvement under the boards. We have two tall girls (Wertz and Shearer) that continue to work hard from game to game. Who knows what kind of numbers they could put up this season cause we have one of the best point guards in the area that sees the floor very well in Morgan and is not afraid to make that pass down court or underneath.
Peck and Tripp can be very helpful on the scoring side with the outside shot of about 12 to 15 feet. Gentzyel knows that Morgan will find her points. “If we can get into a transition game, I know with Morgan getting the outlet, Tripp, Peck, Wertz and Shearer have shown quickness on getting down court for the score.”
Gentzyel is looking at senior Cheyanne Casper for giving these guards a break. Injured senior Tiffany Helgrem and sophomore Makayla Fleisher will see varsity time as well once they get clearance to play. Junior Abby Ransom could be helping out also depending on how long the two injury players could be out.
The Lady Bucks just finished up scrimmaging Meadowbrook Christian this past Tuesday. Coach Gentzyel was pleased with the offense on moving the ball around. Wertz and Shearer need to make the first shot count more often. On defense, we are lacking on moving to help each other, especially on the weak side. The Lady Bucks will have a scrimmage at Central Mountain on Wednesday Dec. 4 beginning at 5:30 p.m.
The Lady Bucks have a total of 18 girls out this season on JV/Varsity. The rest of the girls are senior Mary Fecteau, juniors Tiffany Duffield, Brook Probst, Shae Cowfer, Ally Schenck, sophomores Paige Sockman, Bridget Gardner, freshmen Emily Mills and Hailey Risley.
The big goal for the Lady Bucks this year is to better their record from last season. The next goal is that the Lady Bucks want to fill the bleachers every home game in the reconditioned gym. Also the young Lady Bucks need to continue to work hard at practice. Not only to improve themselves as players but to make the upper classmates better and game ready.
New assistant coach Morgan had some thoughts about moving over to the girls side with Coach Gentzyel: “First coach Rusty Blessard will be missed by Gentzyel and me. Rusty was into the physical fitness of the girls for the season. Don’t get me wrong, I will miss the boys’ side of the game in which I will miss some special seniors this year. I could not pass this chance up to move over. This is the group of girls I helped coach in their 5th and 6th grade years. Now I have the chance to help Gentzyel to drive this special group of girls to their goals.”
Lady Bucks will begin their season this Friday, Dec. 6 and Saturday, Dec. 7 at the Williamson Tip-Off Tournament, opening with Galeton at 6 p.m. Friday. The other teams in the tourney are Austin and Williamson.
Then the Lady Bucks will be at home on Tuesday for a 6 p.m. start as they welcome Benton.
