Strong third quarter lifts Bucktail into semifinals with 53-31 win
By Bees O’Brien
FARWELL- Bucktail entered their first ever home playoff contest with high hopes. The Bucks have never advanced in the District IV basketball playoffs and on Tuesday night they would make history.
The Bucks would absolutely dominate visiting Meadowbrook Christian in the third quarter. Bucktail, already holding a slim 23-15 lead at the half would expose the Lions terrible night of shooting and poor ball handling. The end result was a 15-0 run for the entire third quarter and a commanding 38-15 lead heading into the final quarter.
It wasn’t always this easy for the Bucks. Meadowbrook’s Landon Tillson’s layup at the buzzer to end the first quarter would give his team an early 9-6 lead after one.
Bucktail’s defense would start to make plays in the second quarter. Gary Whipp, Brody Pentz and Gavin Pick would collect multiple steals and forced the Lions to throw the ball away multiple times. The Bucks would use a 17-6 second quarter to build that halftime lead that would set up the disastrous third quarter for the Lions.
Meadowbrook Christian did outscore Bucktail 16-15 in the game’s final period, but by this time the final outcome had been determined.
Bucktail officially became a District 4 member in 2002, after leaving District 6. The Bucks have two district championships. 1986 and 1989, with the latter being the last time they qualified for the state playoffs. Now Bucktail is just one win away from qualifying for the state tournament and will automatically play in two more games. The first of which will be Friday or Saturday with a time and location also yet to be determined. They will meet the winners of the Northumberland Christian and Benton game, which takes place tomorrow night at Northumberland Christian.
In an upset final in District IV 1A, it was Galeton stunning 3 seed Cowanesque Valley 49-41. 2 Seed NP-Liberty knocked off defending district champions Sullivan County 56-48.
Braylon Fantaski led Bucktail with 12 points. Brody Pentz collected double-double number 14 by scoring 10 points and collecting 13 points. Senior Will Steele came up big for first-year head coach Travis Fantaskey. Steele would score 10 points, including a pair of three-point baskets. Gary Whipp added 9 points and 5 steals.
Landon Tillson led Meadowbrook Christian with 7 points.
Meadowbrook 9 6 0 16 = 31
Bucktail 6 17 15 15 = 53
Bucktail (53)
Pentz 5 0-2 10, Fantaski 4 4-4 12, Mason 2 0-0 4, Whipp 4 1-2 9, Green 1 0-0 3, Pick 2 0-0 4, Steele 4 0-0 10, Shearer 0 0-0 0, T. Ditty 0 0-0 0, A. Ditty 0 0-0 0, Charcalla 0 0-0 0, Heiser 0 0-0 0,TOTALS- 22 5-8 53
3FG- 4 (Fantaski 2, Steele 2, Green) Rebounds- 30 (Pentz 13) Assists- 10 (Pentz 5) Steals- 16 (Pentz 5, Whipp 5, Pick 5) Blocks- 1 (Whipp)
