Shooting woes cost Lady Bucks first loss of the season vs. Neumann 54-26
By Bees O’ Brien
FARWELL, PA- Bucktail was looking to keep their undefeated streak alive Friday night in Farwell against visiting St. John Neumann. The Lady Bucks had hoped to gain some revenge on the team that eliminated them from last season’s PIAA District 4 1A quarterfinals, but poor shooting and a talented Lady Knights squad led by Sheiana Tutler and Gigi Parlante were too much for Bucktail.
The Lady Knights suffered a tough 1-point loss to Muncy earlier in the week and needed a strong road victory to keep pace in the highly competitive Mid Penn Conference. A victory over a quality opponent like the Lady Bucks would go a long way as the season plays out.
Bucktail (3-1, 1-1) quickly showed no signs of intimidation and gained leads of 3-2 on a Mak Wagner free throw and later a 5-4 lead following a Wagner layup.
Bucktail’s leading scorer was held in check all night and was constantly shadowed by Tutler, her sister Shania Tutler, Parlante and Lizzy Weller. Wagner would struggle and was held to just 9 points, which led a sputtering Lady Bucks’ offense that shot just 8 for 46 (19%) for the game.
Bucktail did crawl to within 1 when Wagner found Alexis Lowery under the basket for a score, trailing 8-7. It was as close as the Lady Bucks would ever get again in the contest. St. John Neumann held an 11-7 lead after one quarter.
Matti Mason started the home team off on the right track early in the second quarter to crawl to within 3 at 12-9, but then it was Gigi Parlante’s turn. The Neumann center hammered in an offensive putback to build the Neumann lead to 16-10. Parlante finished with 10 points and a game-high 15 rebounds for the Lady Knights, but Bucktail thought they caught a break when she picked up her third personal foul with 3:10 remaining in the half.
Bucktail opted to not attack her and she wouldn’t pick up another foul the remainder of the game.St. John Neumann’s 14-12 second quarter advantage gave them a 25-19 halftime advantage.
Coach Carl Gentzyel’s Lady Bucks were still very much in the contest to start the second half, but it was Sheiana Tutler again stepping up. Her three-point basket closed out a 7-0 Neumann run to start the half, as Neumann led 32-19.
Bucktail broke Neumann’s press well until the third quarter. Turnovers quickly became a factor in the Lady Knights 13-2 third quarter advantage, and they now held a convincing 38-21 lead with one quarter to go.
Bucktail’s Dezlyn Halpate was one of the few Lady Buck to find scoring success with two made shots and four points in the second half. Lily Francis also added a basket in the third quarter.
St. John Neumann (2-2, 2-1) closed out the game with a 16-5 fourth quarter advantage to set the final.
Sheiana Tutler led Neumann with 19 points, including a pair of three-point baskets as the Lady Knights look poised to make another run at a state playoff appearance. Mak Wagner’s 9 points led Bucktail. Kayla Probert added 6 points.
Bucktail’s JV did look impressive in their 33-9 JV contest victory.
The Lady Bucks are to be back in action at home Monday, hosting Montgomery, that game moved up one day from its original Tuesday date.
St. John Neumann 11 14 13 16 = 54
Bucktail 7 12 2 5 = 26
BUCKTAIL
- Wagner 1 7-10 9, Probert 2 2-4 6, Halpate 2 0-0 4, Francis 1 1-2 3, Lowery 1 0-0 2, Mason 1 0-0 2, B. English 0 0-0 0, K. Wagner 0 0-0 0, L. English 0 0-0 0, Sockman 0 0-0 0, Stone 0 0-0 0,
TOTALS- 8-46 10-16 26
3FG- NONE Rebounds- 24 (Lowery 8) Steals- 10 (M.Wagner 2, Lowery 2, K. Wagner 2) Assists- 3 (M. Wagner 2) Blocks (M. Wagner)
