Bucktail dominates Benton on Senior Night, 64-41
By Bees O’Brien
FARWELL-Bucktail took care of business Friday night in Farwell at home against visiting Benton. The Bucks were honoring their five seniors on Senior Night. In return, the Bucktail seniors controlled the game to get the Bucks to an even .500 record for the first time this season.
The now 10-10 playoff bound Bucks utilized a great overall senior effort to dismantle a Tigers team that entered the game at 1-18. Seniors Brody Pentz and Gary Whipp charged the Bucktail offense by scoring 17 and 16 points respectively.
Seniors Ethan Charcalla, Ethan Kalafut and Talan Ditty also shined throughout the night. Kalafut and Charcalla both finished with 5 points and Ditty scored 3 points in the victory.
Benton proved to be pesky in the first quarter by holding a 13-12 lead.
Head coach Travis Fantaskey got his team running on all cylinders in the second quarter.
A Pentz basket and a Gary Whipp three-point basket capped off a big 9-0 Bucktail run to start the second quarter.
With 1:02 remaining in the half, sophomore Aidan Ditty scored to put the Bucks up 31-20. Ditty was instrumental in the quarter by scoring all 9 of his points in the frame.
The Bucks led 34-20 at the break and following a dominating 21-0 third quarter, implemented the mercy rule on the Tigers.
Benton found some offensive success in the final quarter against the Bucktail JV unit by outscoring the hosts 21-9 to set the 64-41 final.
After concurring with official statisticians, it was discovered that Brody Pentz did collect his second triple-double of the season by scoring his17 points, grabbing 15 rebounds and dishing out 10 assists.
“It has been an honor to share the court with this group of seniors the last few year.” Said Fantaskey “And watching them grow to exceptional basketball players and young men.”
Now the Bucks will face the ultimate test on Thursday in their final regular season game of the season when they travel to Montgomery (12-6). The Bucks own a slim 66-63 win over the Red Raiders back on January 4.
That game will go a long way in deciding what seed Bucktail will get in the upcoming PIAA District IV 1A playoffs. Currently the Bucks sit in third place, trailing Sullivan County (11-9) and NP-Liberty (13-7). The top 4 will get a home court quarterfinal game.
Benton 13 7 0 21 41
Bucktail
Bucktail
Pentz 6 5-5 17, Whipp 4 2-4 16, Kalafut 2 0-0 5, Charcalla 2 0-0 5, T. Ditty 1 1-2 3, Pick 2 2-2 6, A. Ditty 3 3-3 9, Heiser 1 0-0 3, Mathews 0 0-0 0, Mansfield 0 0-0 0, Pedokus 0 0-0 0, Steele 0 0-0 0, Barnes 0 0-0 0, TOTALS- 23 13-16 64
3FG- 5 (Whipp 2, Charcalla, Kalafut, Heiser) Rebounds- 33 (Pentz 15) Steals- 9 (Pentz 5) Assists-13 (Pentz 10) Blocks- 9 (Pentz 3, A. Ditty 3, Charcalla, Heiser, T. Ditty)
