Bucks get huge road win at St. John Neumann 67-57
By Bees O’Brien
WILLIAMSPORT- The last time Bucktail managed to defeat St. John Neumann was 2011. On Wednesday night in Williamsport the Bucks stunned the 2A Golden Knights 67-57. Bucktail used a balanced effort and avenged an early season loss to Neumann in Farwell back in December.
It was Bucktail’s second marquee win within the past week and even more important in the defending 1A district champions quest to secure a home court playoff game.
The Bucks got plenty of contributions in what was a total team effort.
St. John Neumann jumped out to a 20-12 lead after one quarter of play. Bucktail battled back in the second and took the lead for good halfway through the second quarter. The Bucks took command of the game for good following an 18-7 second quarter to hold down a 30-27 halftime lead.
Bucktail’s offense began to qear down the Golden Knights in the third quarter. A 17-8 third quarter from the Bucks set the second half tone, but in typical Neumann fashion, the Golden Knights kept coming at Bucktail.
St. John Neumann blistered the nets for 22 fourth quarter points, but seniors Ethan Charcalla and Gary Whipp locked down some free throws in the fourth and final quarter of play to secure Bucktail’s victory. The Bucktail backcourt combined for 22 second half points, including 8 points from the charity stripe.
The Brody Pentz and Talan Ditty combination began to be too much for Neumann, too. Pentz finished with 9 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. Pentz also dished out a team-high 8 assists. Most of those assists were to Ditty, who collected a double-double by netting 14 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.
Charcalla and Whipp led Bucktail with 15 points each and Gavin Pick netted 13 points in the win. Pick connected on 5 free throws and Bucktail tied a season high of 12 made from the line.
Daiton Thompson led Neumann with 23 points. The Golden Knights fell to 7-12 on the season and with South Williamsport, NP-Mansfield and Jersey Shore remaining on their schedule, could find making postseason a tough hill to climb.
The Bucks moved to 9-10 on the season and will now square off with Benton (1-18) at home on Friday night for Senior Night. Senior Night activities are set to start at 5:30pm with the varsity game to follow. There will be no JV contest on Friday evening.
