Whipp’s miracle three is what has the Bucks hosting playoffs for the first time

By Bees O’Brien

FARWELL- In the closing seconds of Bucktail’s December 28 meeting with Meadowbrook Christian, it looked like all hope was lost. The Bucks trailed the Lions by 3 points and Bucktail guard Gary Whipp would launch a miracle three-point basket as the buzzer would sound. Whipp’s desperation shot would fall to send the game into the first of two overtimes. Bucktail would eventually wear out Meadowbrook in the second overtime and escape in a very low scoring 38-36 contest.

Little did Whipp and his teammates realize how important his shot and that game would be. It was the difference between traveling to Milton and facing Meadowbrook Christian on the road or hosting the program’s first ever home court playoff game against those same Lions. The latter is where we’ll be on Tuesday night when the 11-11 Bucktail Bucks host 8-8 Meadowbrook Christian in a PIAA District IV 1A Boys Quarterfinal contest, with a tipoff set for 7:30.

How They Got Here

It’s been an up and down year for Bucktail. They’ve been the talk of District IV 1A since the start of the season. Bucktail entered the season with four experienced seniors and a highly touted junior. Mixed with some talent in the freshman class and first-year head coach Travis Fantaskey was gifted a team that could turn out good things this season and they did.

The Bucks improved their win total by four games from the previous season and grabbed the coveted 4 seed in a season-long battle with their opponent on Tuesday night in Meadowbrook.

10 of the Bucks’ 11 losses have come at the hands of fellow playoff teams. The other loss was to 4A Milton, in what was a brutal schedule.

They had some quality wins along the way. Victories over playoff teams Benton, Meadowbrook Christian, Northern Potter and Northern Potter have built up Bucktail’s confidence. The Bucks finished strong and won when it counted with victories over Montgomery, Columbia Montour Vo-Tech and Millville during the last week of regular season to lock up their home court spot and the program’s first .500 or better season since 2003.

The Lions started off hot and actually led District IV 1A until the Bucks knocked them off at the CMVT Holiday Tournament. Meadowbrook’s only win of note was over Montgomery, as they play in the Allegheny Christian Athletic Conference. The Lions closed out the season dropping a nonconference game to Juniata, 61-34.

Key Players

For the Bucks’ there’s a lot to choose from. Leading scorer and rebounder Brody Pentz leads the squad with his District-best 13 double-doubles. Pentz closed out the regular season by collecting three of those double-doubles in three consecutive nights.

Second leading scorer Braylon Fantaski missed the first game against the Lions and one would think that he may give Bucktail an extra edge on Tuesday night. The prolific scorer had 26 points in their season finale and can be extremely dangerous from beyond the arc. Johnny Green may have the best basketball mind on the team. The senior can score and has shown tons of hustle down the stretch for Bucktail. Green is an undersized big man that can mix it up with anybody on the low block and will pop a three ball when left open. Green scored 8 points in the first meeting with Meadowbrook.

Brett Mason is entering Tuesday night playing his best varsity basketball of his career. He’s been consistently scoring in double figures for the Bucks down the stretch.

Senior Will Steele and Gary Whipp give Bucktail some very good speed on defense. Whipp has become one of Bucktail’s best defenders. Freshman Gavin Pick gives the Bucks an athletic and versatile big man in the post.

In that first meeting with Bucktail, Meadowbrook was led by Levi Erb’s 12 points. He was the only player to score in double figures for either team. He didn’t reach the scoring column until the fourth quarter.

Landon Tillson, Copeland Locke and Josiah Baker all played good games in the first meeting and Josh Dugan is the Lions best deep ball threat.

The Rest Of The Field

This tournament is as wide open as it could be. There is no real dominant team, with Northumberland Christian being the top seed at just 13-5. The Warriors drew a battle tested Benton (9-13) in the quarterfinals. The Warriors could have their hands full with Benton if 1,000-point scorer Graydon Beishline is on, just ask the Bucks. Beishline and company defeated Bucktail in their first meeting and also have wins against playoff teams Northern Potter, Galeton and Sullivan County. The winner of this game will meet the Bucktail/Meadowbrook winner this weekend.

Perennial state playoff qualifiers NP-Liberty drew the number 2 seed and will meet a dangerous and defending district champions in Sullivan County in the quarters. The winner of that contest will meet the Cowanesque Valley/Galeton winner when those two teams from up north due battle.

The Bucktail vs. Meadowbrook Christian game will be broadcast audio only on The Record Online following the Bucktail Lady Bucks quarterfinal game against Millville.