Pick powers Bucktail past Millville in 56-47 home win

 

By Bees O’Brien

FARWELL- Gavin Pick is money from the free throw line and his head coach Travis Fantaskey knows it.

“He gives me 110 percent every game on both sides of the ball, but once again it came down to foul shots and Gavin is clutch.” said Fantaskey following his team’s second straight Mid Penn Conference victory.

Millville battled back throughout the fourth quarter and had the Bucks on the ropes with 1:30 remaining in the game. A pair of Pick free throws extended their lead over the Quakers by a 49-44 count, but a Millville three-point basket put the visitors within striking distance.

The Quakers had a chance, but an inside shot came up short, resulting in Pick grabbing his fourteenth rebound of the game. Millville quickly fouled the Bucktail junior to send him to the line. Pick had a rare miss on a front end of a bonus situation, but made his second shot.

The Quakers still had hope, but again it was Pick with a big defensive stop on a steal, resulting in two more foul shots. Millville eliminated any chance of winning following a technical foul, which sent Pick to the line for four more shots.

Pick went 13 of 15 from the line in the game, connected on a pair of three-point baskets to finish with 25 points and 14 rebounds. He also added 2 assists and a blocked shot.

In the end it was Bucktail gaining a big win in the current District IV playoff standings over a Quaker team that is also fighting to get into the postseason.

Millville was tough and unrelenting early on. Corbin Pentz’s steal and basket gave the Bucks an early 4-2 lead. The Quakers regained the lead and held it throughout the first quarter until Pick delivered a basket at the buzzer to give Bucktail the 12-11 lead after one quarter.

An Aidan Ditty basket, followed by a three-point basket from Pick gave the Bucks breathing room at 21-11. Millville showed some stubbornness with a 7-0 run of their own to once again chip away at the Bucks’ lead.

The final minute of the half seen the Bucks go on a quick flurry led by baskets from Pentz and Pick.

With Bucktail up 27-22, Otis Emerick delivered a basket to lift the Bucks up 29-22. JJ Ditty’s score on a putback had the home team up 37-24, but Millville would not go away.

The Quakers rolled out a quick 7-0 run to shrink Bucktail’s lead to 37-31. The biggest shot of the night for the Bucks came from reserve freshman guard Marv Robinson.

Robinson drilled a three-point basket to end the Millville run and give Bucktail a 40-33 lead.

Head coach Fantaskey acknowledged his freshmen Ditty and Robinson and their efforts.

“I thanked them after the game, without them pitching in this afternoon, we may not have won that game.” said Fantaskey.

Bucktail’s 16-12 final quarter resulted in a 56-47 win.

Pentz joined Pick in double figures scoring 13 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. Aidan Ditty finished with 6 points and a game-high 5 steals. Otis Emerick also dropped in 6 points. Marv Robinson scored 3 points, while JJ Ditty and Teagan Stone both added two in the win.

Now 4-7, The Bucks will look to keep things rolling against MPC East leaders Sullivan County (9-3) on Wednesday in Farwell.

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Bucktail (56)

Pick 5 13-15 25, A. Ditty 3 0-0 6, Stone 1 0-2 2, Pentz 6 1-2 13, Emerick 3 0-0 6, J. Ditty 1 0-0 2, Robinson 1 0-2 3, Totals 20 14-21 56

3FG- 3 (Pick 2, Robinson) Rebounds- 31 (Pick 14) Assists- 5 (Pick 2) Steals- 12 (A. Ditty 5) Blocks-1 (Pick)