Lady Bucks head into season under new leadership, experienced roster

By Bees O’Brien

FARWELL, PA- New Bucktail girls basketball coach Suellen Wagner knew when she took over the vacancy left by longtime Lady Bucks head coach Carl Gentzyel that she would have experienced players to help guide her in her debut season in Farwell.

Bucktail will return the core of a team that won 10 games a season ago and qualified for the District IV 1A playoffs.

Bucktail would eventually fall in the opening round to eventual district champions Meadowbrook Christian, but they did so without leading scorer Mak Wagner. Wagner went down in early January with a season-ending injury and remarkably Bucktail battled through the remainder of the schedule to earn an eight-seed in the playoffs.

Wagner, the senior is back for 2023-24 and she brings her aggressive court play with her. Wagner had incredible freshman and sophomore seasons and was off to a fast start prior to the injury. If opposing teams key on Wagner, they may be in for a surprise.

The supporting cast for Bucktail has improved their skill level.

Outside shooters senior Dezlyn Halpate, junior Matti Mason and a pair of sophomores Lola English and Makenna Stone all have dangerous shots from beyond the arc.

Mason has been playing like a seasoned veteran since she burst on to the scene as a freshman two seasons ago and English is poised to be the next breakout star for the Lady Bucks.

Bucktail will also have a strong inside game with solid rebounding from Alexis Lowery, Kendall Wagner and Eva Sockman.

Newcomers to the varsity program include Lillian Drake, Arionna Winkelman, Kacie Jones and Riley Salizzoni.

Coach Wagner is planning on implementing a new offense this season in Farwell and has been guided and helped by former Bucknell University head coach Fedorjaka.

Bucktail’s schedule looks pretty solid, with two defending district champions in South Williamsport and Meadowbrook Christian on the schedule. Northwest and St. John Neumann, both state playoff teams are also on the 2023-24 slate.

The Lady Bucks will once again compete in both the Galeton tipoff tournament and the West Branch Holiday Tournament.

They will once again meet Austin and they will also see two more District 9 opponents that are new to the schedule. Northern Potter and Curwensville have both been added for contests.

The Lady Bucks are set to open their regular season on December 6 at home in a Mid Penn cross divisional contest against the Lady Tigers of Benton.