State Bound! Bucktail knocks off Norry Christian 73-61 to send Bucks to district championship
By Bees O’Brien
LOYALSOCK TOWNSHIP- Braylon Fantaski entered Bucktail’s PIAA District IV 1A semifinal against top-seeded Norry Christian needing 45 points to hit the 1,000-point mark in his career. He nearly did it in a single game and he couldn’t have picked a bigger game to shine for the Bucks.
Fantaski scorched the Warriors for 42 points, Brody Pentz collected his district-leading 15th double-double, Brett Mason was on fire and Johnny Green’s defense helped Bucktail dominate Norry Christian in a 73-61 victory. The 4-seeded Bucks would lock up their first state playoff berth and district championship since 1989.
Bucktail outplayed Northumberland Christian (14-6) from the opening tip and never let up. A capacity crowd filled Loyalsock Gymnasium with a sea of Bucktail red and at times the noise level was through the roof.
Fantaski and the Bucks started off hot with a 19-9 first quarter lead. Bucktail’s deny defense on Alec Phillips worked like a charm. Johnny Green muscled out the much taller Phillips the entire game, which forced the turnovers and the Bucks continuously outhustled the Warriors.
Norry Christian continued to allow Fantaski and Mason wide open looks from beyond the arc and senior duo would make them pay dearly.
A 20-18 second quarter would have the Bucks up with a commanding 39-27 lead. Fantaski nearly had as many points as the entire Warriors’ team in the first half with 26.
Norry would not go away. The top seeded squad and a finalist from a season ago would battle back. With Phillips basically a nonfactor in the game, Connor Bennett would rally his team back. Norry’s 21-18 third quarter gave them hope.
The hot shooting Bennett would knock down a career high 33 points in the game, but his counterpart from Bucktail was far from done.
Fantaski continued to deliver and Mason would score 9 second half points to help keep his team safely in front.
Norry climbed to within 8 points with 6:30 remaining in the game when Fantaski would drill one of his 8 three-pointers on the night. With 2:24 Fantaski would pick up his fourth personal foul.
Brody Pentz would swipe one of his 3 steals with a minute remaining and convert to set the final at 73-61.
Fantaski’s 42 set a new career-high and led all scorers. Pentz finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds and 7 assists. Mason would score 12 in the win.
Bucktail (13-11) will now meet Cinderella story Galeton (12-12) in the District IV 1A title game. The Tigers continued their underdog run with a 68-55 win over second seeded NP-Liberty on Saturday night. The date, time and location has yet to be set.
Norry Christian will now meet Liberty in the consolation game with a state berth on the line.
Bucktail 19 20 18 16 = 73
Norry 9 18 21 13 = 61
Pentz 6 2-2 14, Fantaski 14 4-4 42, Green 1 0-0 2, Mason 4 1-4 12, Whipp 1 3-5 6, Pick 0 0-0 0, TOTALS- 26 10-15 73
3FG- 12 (Fantaski 8, Mason 3, Whipp) Rebounds- 28 (Pentz 10, Green 8) Assists- 10 (Pentz 7) Steals- 7 (Pentz 3) Blocks- 2 (Pentz 2)
