Wagner sisters notch double-doubles in 43-15 Bucktail win
By Bees O’Brien
FARWELL- Kelsie Wagner continued to impress on Monday night during Bucktail’s girls basketball home opener. The Bucktail freshman recorded a career-high 27 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to help the Lady Bucks improve to 2-1 on the season following a convincing 43-15 victory over visiting West Branch.
Wagner’s big sister Kendall Wagner dominated the paint throughout by scoring 12 points and pulling down 15 rebounds.
Kelsie Wagner’s assist to Arionna Winkelman to start the game had Bucktail off to a fast start. Kendall Wagner made a strong presence early by giving the Lady Bucks a 6-0 lead. She then converted another inside bucket with 2:00 remaining in the first quarter.
Bucktail closed out the quarter on a 6-0 run to hold a commanding 14-2 lead on the Lady Warriors.
An Emma George basket followed by a Kelsie Wagner bucket had the Lady Bucks up 18-2. Another 6-0 run to end the second quarter seen the Lady Buck lead swell to 24-4 at the break.
West Branch put forth their best effort in the third quarter, but their small rally was diminished when Kaitlin Paloskey snagged an offensive rebound and found Kelsie Wagner to build Bucktail’s lead to 32-9 with 2:10 remaining in the quarter.
The younger Wagner put the final dagger in the Lady Warriors with a three-point basket with 30 seconds remaining in the frame to give Bucktail the 37-12 lead.
Head coach Suellen Wagner then cleared her bench for the final frame. Bucktail edged the Lady Warriors 6-2 to set the final.
Coach Wagner had good things to say about her team, including how every player contributed in the victory.
Bucktail played all ten players that were suited against West Branch. Miyah Devlin didn’t find herself in the scoring column, but her 5 rebounds didn’t go unnoticed. Winkelman netted 2 points, pulled down 4 rebounds and swiped two steals.
Freshmen Kaitlin Paloskey, Emma George and Olivia Henderson also made their mark on the game. George netted 2 points, 2 rebounds and an assist. Paloskey grabbed a couple of rebounds and an assist. Henderson finished the night with a pair of rebounds and a steal.
Bucktail grabbed 43 total rebounds as a team and forced 9 steals. They also blocked 4 Lady Warrior shots, with Kendall Wagner accounting for three of those.
Bucktail will be looking to keep their winning streak alive on Wednesday when they travel to Williamsport to meet the 0-2 St. John Neumann Lady Knights.
West Branch228215
Bucktail141013643
Bucktail (43)
Kelsie Wagner 9 8-14 27, Henderson 0 0-0 0, Kendall Wagner 5 2-9 12, Winkelman 1 0-0 2, Devlin 0 0-0 0, Paloskey 0 0-0 0, George 1 0-0 2, Intallura 0 0-0 0, Salizonni 0 0-0 0, Reading 0 0-0 0, Snyder 0 0-0 0, TOTALS- 17 10-22 43
3FG- 1 (Kelsie Wagner) Rebounds- 43 (Ken. Wagner 15, Kel. Wagner 11) Assists-8 (Kel. Wagner 3) Steals- 9 (Kel. Wagner 4) Blocks- 4 (Ken. Wagner 3, Kel. Wagner)
