Lady Bucks set to face challenges in 2024-25

By Bees O’Brien

FARWELL- When the preseason began in early November, Bucktail girls basketball head coach Suellen Wagner had no idea what the future of this program would be. The Lady Bucks had a roster of just five girls at one point. Their roster grew to just 6 once the season officially got underway with preseason drills.

With the future of Bucktail’s girls program in jeopardy. Players Matti Mason, Eva Sockman and Kendall Wagner would resort to a social media video to try and recruit more players to ensure that young girls for years to come would be able to compete and be a Lady Buck. The message worked and now Bucktail’s roster has grown to 11 players just a week before they are set to make the hour trek to Emporium and meet Cameron County in the first ever meeting between the two programs.

Sockman, Wagner and Mason were at the core of a Bucktail team that were just a possession away from leading the school to their first ever state playoff in girls basketball.

Sockman returns as a top rebounder, while Wagner also offers the Lady Bucks another solid rebounder. Mason, a senior will be Bucktail’s top returning scorer.

Riley Sallizzoni and Arriona Winkelman also return and provide some limited varsity experience. Coach Wagner has appreciate the duos work ethic thus far.

Rebekah Conway and Kari Buttons make the jump up from junior high and will be throttled right into the Bucktail varsity rotation and with low numbers that can be expected from every girl on the Lady Bucks’ roster.

Bucktail fell in the district consolation final a season ago, but nearly topped second place Meadowbrook Christian in the semifinals to advance.

Getting to another District IV 1A playoffs is not out of the question, but they will have challenges both within the Mid Penn Conference and nonconference.

Following the date with Cameron County, Bucktail will make their annual trip to the Galeton Tipoff Tournament. That tournament usually features the host Lady Tigers, Austin and Williamson.

On December 11 Bucktail will open their home slate against District 9’s Northern Potter before traveling to South Williamsport to open conference play on December 13.

Conference opponents Muncy, Montgomery, defending district champions St. John Neumann, Northwest, Sullivan County, Millville, Benton and CMVT also await the Lady Bucks.

Bucktail will also once again travel to the West Branch Holiday Tournament on December 27 and 28. Bucktail will also meet the Lady Warriors in a regular season meeting on February 5 in Farwell.

Depth might be an issue this season, but these young girls are in position to keep the program running for future generations.