Lady Bucks nearly upset top ranked Meadowbrook Christian in 32-29 loss
By Bees O’Brien
LOYALSOCK TOWNSHIP- Bucktail was hoping that their fortunes had improved since they met Meadowbrook Christian in Farwell back in January. Bucktail lost that contest by 12, but Saturday night in Loyalsock they nearly pulled off a monumental upset in the PIAA District IV girls 1A playoffs.
In a game that was physical and would have it’s fair share of questionable calls, The Lady Bucks would fall short 32-29.
The game was thrilling from start to finish. Meadowbrook jumped out to a 10-7 lead after one quarter. Guard Matti Mason so her best to keep her team in it by being their only offensive spark throughout the game. Mason scored Bucktail’s first five points of the game, including a basket with 3:40 remaining in the first quarter to give the Lady Bucks the early 5-4 lead.
The Lady Bucks would have a better quarter in the second frame from an offensive standpoint and outscore the Lady Lions 9-7 and trail the top-seeded team 17-16 at the break.
Mason, Bucktail’s leading scorer in the contest would foul out with 5:33 remaining in the third quarter. Mason’s 10-point effort would lead Bucktail on the night.
Meadowbrook’s leading scorer Kailey Devlin’s three-pointer with 2 minutes remaining in the third gave her team the 22-18 lead, but Kendall Wagner’s three pointer and an Alexis Lowery free throw would tie things up at 22-22.
Lowery, who would come off the bench and supply Bucktail with a presence on defense finished with 10 rebounds and did her best to keep Bucktail in the contest.
A Devlin late score had the Lady Lions up 24-22 heading into the final quarter of play.
A Lola English made free throw with 1:55 remaining in the game would give Bucktail a surprising 29-28 lead, but misfortune quickly came the way of the Lady Bucks.
Just 35 seconds later Mak Wagner would be tackled on the sideline by an air born Emma George. Wagner would then be whistled for an offensive foul, much to the disagreement of the Bucktail crowd. It would be her fifth foul.
With Wagner out, the Lady Lions went on a 4-0 run to close out the game and punch their spot in the 1A title game.
Meadowbrook (23-1) will meet St. John Neumann in the championship. The Lady Knights downed Lourdes Regional in the other semifinal to earn a state playoff bid.
The season is far from over for the Lady Bucks. They will now meet Lourdes Regional (15-9) in the D4 consolation game with a state playoff appearance on the line. Date, location and time for that contest has yet to be determined.
Bucktail 7 9 6 7 = 29
Meadowbrook10 7 7 8 = 32
M. Wagner 3 0-2 8, K. Wagner 1 0-4 3, Mason 4 1-1 10, Sockman 2 1-6 5, English 0 1-2 1, Lowery 0 2-2 2, Stone 0 0-0 0, TOTALS- 10 5-17 29
3FG- 4 (M. Wagner 2, K. Wagner, Mason) Rebounds- 31 (Sockman 13, Lowery 10) Assists- 8 (M. Wagner 2, Sockman 2) Steals- 3 (M. Wagner 2) Blocks- 1 (K. Wagner)
