Bucktail looking to repeat in 2024-25
Bucktail will need to fill three big voids in the losses of Johnny Green, Brett Mason and Braylon Fantaski to graduation, but head coach Travis Fantaskey has found some players from that championship squad that are ready to step in and become factors in a program that is no longer the unknown underdog but rather a team that has become the target in District IV 1A.
The Bucks took their four-seed in last year’s district playoffs and mowed down Meadowbrook Christian, stunned top seeded Norry Christian before dropping fellow Cinderella story Galeton in the District finals.
Fantaskey’s squad returns one of the best players the district. All State selection and 1,000-point scorer Brody Pentz will once again lead his squad into a new season. The senior collected a district-best 17 double-doubles last season and has already started hot out of the gates with a 22-point and 18-rebound night in the Bucks’ opening scrimmage against Walnut Street Christian.
He will be joined by returning starter and fellow senior Gary Whipp. Bucktail’s defensive specialist can also hit big shots beyond the arc, something Bucktail will be looking to replace with the losses of Mason and Fantaski. Senior Ethan Charcalla is another potential long range threat for the Bucks.
Fantaskey praised the offseason efforts that Charcalla has made gearing up for his final campaign in Farwell.
Sophomore Gavin Pick had a breakout freshman season and could be the best pure shooter on the roster. Pick has the size to collect rebounds inside for the Bucks. He’s got a season at the varsity level under his belt and will be relied on to become an impact player.
The Bucks do have some solid size under the basket with a pair of physical seniors in Ethan Kalafut and Talan Ditty. Kalafut will be hard for opponents to boss around on the low block and Talan Ditty is almost automatic under the rim on put backs.
Xander Shearer also returns. Shearer has uncanny hustling ability and can get physical within the realms of the rulebook.
Aiden Ditty will give the Bucks even more depth, especially as the season wears on. Ditty has put in some offseason time and it’s beginning to show.
JV coach Mike Charcalla’s JV squad is showing tons of potential with Stevie Heiser returning and exciting freshman Teagan Stone joining the ranks. Newcomer Sam Mansfield has been a welcomed addition to the squad. Camden Barnes, Nate Steele, Leon Mathews and Will Pedokus round out Charcalla’s squad.
Before the Bucks can defend their crown, they’ll need to qualify for the playoffs by accumulating a .500 record, or finish amongst the top 8 in District IV 1A. That will mean surviving a tough Mid Penn Conference slate and winning some challenging out of conference games.
Bucktail’s season will begin December 5 with a road trip to MPC East rivals Benton. The Tigers were a playoff team a season ago and should be an interesting opener for Bucktail.
On the following night, Bucktail will hop on the bus and head to Boalsburg to meet up with perennial District 6 powers, Saint Joseph Catholic Academy.
Bucktail’s 2024-25 home opener will come on Monday December 9 when Jon Ogden’s Austin Panthers are set to come to Farwell. This is the first of two meetings with Austin scheduled for this season. The Bucks will return the favor on January 20 with a trip to Austin.
Within the Mid Penn Conference the Bucks are set to meet divisional foes St. John Neumann, Muncy, Montgomery and South Williamsport. They’ll also battle Benton, Millville, Northwest, Sullivan County and Columbia Montour Vo-Tech that make up the MPC’s East Division.
The Bucks would love to get another shot in the state playoffs after being eliminated by Lancaster County Christian in the first round of the PIAA 1A State Playoffs a season ago. It won’t be an easy road back, but the returning players know the potential is there.
