Kendall Wagner’s double-double lifts Bucktail girls past Montgomery

By Bees O’Brien
FARWELL- Bucktail found themselves in a battle with a Montgomery team that had struggled thus far during the 2025-26 season. The Lady Red Raiders entered their afternoon trip to Farwell with a 1-3 record and were sitting at the bottom of the Mid Penn Conference.

Bucktail was also sitting at the bottom of the conference and still in search of their first league win. The 2-3 Lady Bucks looked to be the better team on paper, but for the first 16 minutes neither team could gain space on the other.

Montgomery came out of the gates hot by drilling a pair of three-point baskets and took a quick 7-2 lead with 5:37 remaining in the first quarter.

A Kendall Wagner free throw knotted the game up at 7-7 with 50 seconds remaining in the first frame, but a quick Montgomery basket gave the visitors a 9-7 lead after one quarter.

Eva Sockman grabbed one of her 14 rebounds on the night and converted it into two Bucktail points to give the Lady Bucks their first lead at 10-9. Kelsie Wagner’s basket with 4:26 remaining in the half knotted things up at 13-13.

With two minutes remaining and again trailing, the Bucktail duo of Sockman and Kendall Wagner struck. Sockman delivered a laser pass from the wing to a cutting Wagner to once again tie things up at 15-15. Neither team managed to score any points in the final two minutes of the half, which left them deadlocked at 15-15.

Kelsie Wagner opened up the second half with a basket to give Bucktail the 18-17 lead. Arionna Winkelman’s score off of an assist from Kendall Wagner had the Lady Bucks rolling. The elder Wagner then took over.

Bucktail outscored Montgomery 18-5 in the third quarter to hold a commanding 33-20.

It was more of Kendall Wagner in the fourth quarter. Sister Kelsie Wagner also began to catch fire. Bucktail’s 14-6 final quarter run set the final at 47-26.

Kendall Wagner finished her monster night with 19 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 blocks, all team-highs.

Kelsie Wagner ended up reaching double figures with 16 points. Eva Sockman nearly collected a double-double with her 14 rebounds and 9 points. Arionna Winkelman added 4 points. The Lady Bucks dominated in the rebound department by grabbing 42 total boards.

Now 3-2, Bucktail can continue their strong District IV 1A playoff power point push when they travel to West Branch for the Lady Warriors’ annual holiday tournament on Saturday.

The Lady Bucks will meet Bald Eagle Area (1-3), a 3A program at noon. Consolation and championship games are set for 4pm and 530pm.

The other semifinal will see 2A host West Branch (0-7) meet Phillipsburg-Osceola (1-4) another 3A program.

Montgomery965626

Bucktail78181447

Bucktail (47)

Kelsie Wagner 7 2-6 16, Henderson 0 0-0 0, Winkelman 2 0-0 4, Sockman 4 1-3 9, Kendall Wagner 8 3-7 19, Intallura 0 0-0 0, Totals 21 6-16 47

3FG- NONE Rebounds- 42 (Kendall Wagner 14, Sockman 14) Assists- 14 (Kendall Wagner 5, Sockman 5) Steals- 7 (Kendall Wagner 2, Sockman 2) Blocks- 6 (Kendall Wagner 5, Sockman)