Bucks make major move towards home court playoff game with 61-33 win over CMVT
By Bees O’Brien
FARWELL- Bucktail’s hopes of hosting a District IV 1A playoff quarterfinal got an extra boost last night when Sullivan County lost to Wyalusing. The Griffins were the only team that could catch the Bucks, as long as they closed their season strong. Their 61-33 win over Columbia Montour Vo-Tech on Wednesday afternoon almost sealed them in to the four spot with a pair of games remaining. Bucktail could have the potential to actually climb as high as third by the week’s end and surpass Cowanesque Valley in the standings.
Bucktail would use a total team effort and a strong defensive effort to often fluster the Rams. The Bucks would steal the ball 20 times on the night and take advantage of 36 CMVT turnovers.
A 15-6 first quarter would get the home crowd in a frenzy, but the Rams wouldn’t go away just yet. CMVT hung tough with the Bucks in the second quarter with both teams tallying 15 points.
It would be a monster 24-5 Bucktail third quarter that would put away CMVT in a game that was just a 9-point difference at the half.
Both teams would deadlock in the final quarter with the mercy rule in effect. A 7-7 final quarter would set the final score and move the Bucks to 10-10 on the season.
CMVT’s season will come to an end at 3-19.
Ben Mottern led CMVT with 17 points.
Brody Pentz collected another double-double by scoring 22 points and grabbing a team-high 10 rebounds.
Brett Mason had a big night for Bucktail too by netting 14 points and grabbing 7 rebounds. Braylon Fantaski scored 9 for the Bucks.
Bucktail will now host Curwensville and District 9’s leading scorer Davis Flemings tomorrow night in Farwell for Senior Night. Game time is set for a jv tip at 6pm with the varsity game to follow. Fleming scored 40 points on the Bucks back in December in the Golden Tide’s 68-56 win. Curwensville has struggled lately and has slipped to 10-11 on the season and will need a season finale victory over the Bucks to make the District 9 2A playoffs. A win by the Bucks would more than likely lock up their home playoff quarterfinal game.
CMVT 6 15 5 7 =33
Bucktail 15 15 24 7 = 61
Bucktail (61)
Pentz 10 1-3 22, Fantaski 3 2-4 9, Green 2 1-2 5, Mason 6 0-1 14, Whipp 4 0-0 8, W. Steele 0 0-0 0, Pick 0 0-0 0, Shearer 0 0-0 0, A. Ditty 0 0-0 0, Kalafut 1 0-0 3, Charcalla 0 0-0 0, Heiser 0 0-0 0, T. Ditty 1 0-0 2, N. Steele 0 0-0 0, TOTALS- 27 4-10 61
3FG- 5 (Mason 2, Pentz, Fantaski, Kalafut) Rebounds- 32 (Pentz 10) Assists- 13 (Pentz 6) Steals- 20 (Pentz 5, Green 4) Blocks- 4 (Pentz 2, Mason, Green)
