Lourdes ends Lady Bucks historic season, 52-36
By Bees O’Brien
MONTOURSVILLE- Our Lady of Lourdes Regional came to play in the District IV 1A consolation game. The Lady Red Raiders would use good ball movement, lock down defense and a sluggish Bucktail offense on Thursday night to deny the Lady Bucks their first-ever state playoff berth by a 52-36 count.
Bucktail (14-11) started off the game against Lourdes slow and sloppy. Forced turnovers and missed offensive opportunities would lead to Lourdes jumping out to an early 13-5 lead.
Lourdes Regional (16-9) would slow down their offensive attack in the second, as the four-seeded Lady Bucks would use a 10-7 second quarter advantage to make things interesting at 20-15 at the half.
Neither team would gain much traction in the third quarter with the Lady Red Raiders using a tight 9-3 advantage to hold the 29-18 lead heading into the final quarter.
Bucktail’s offense would come to life in the final frame by matching their entire game total thus far by scoring 18 points. Lourdes countered with a 23-point frame to lock up the third and final District IV 1A playoff spot.
Lourdes Regional’s Massie Reed would connect on a pair of free throws late in the fourth to give the senior her 1,000 career points.
Lourdes will now meet Susquehanna, the District 2/11 second place team in the state playoffs.
Kendall Wagner led the Lady Bucks with 13 points. Mak Wagner and Matti Mason would each finish with 10 points. Eva Sockman led Bucktail again with a very tough 12 rebounds.
The Lady Bucks end the season by finishing fourth in the district. They matched the 2009 Bucktail squad that also finished fourth.
Bucktail loses just three seniors and returns a strong group of experienced players.
Bucktail 5 10 31 8 = 36
Lourdes13 7 9 23 = 52
M. Wagner 4 1-4 10, K. Wagner 5 0-0 13, Mason 4 0-3 10, Sockman 0 0-2 0, English 0 1-2 1, Lowery 1 0-0 2, TOTALS- 14 2-11 36
3FG- 6 (K. Wagner 3, Mason 2, M. Wagner) Rebounds- 27 (Sockman 12) Assists- 8 (Mason 3) Steals- 5 (Sockman 3) Blocks- 1 (K. Wagner)
