Neumann escapes Farwell with 67-58 win over Bucks
By Bees O’Brien
FARWELL- Those that overlook St. John Neumann as the favorites in District IV 2A may be making a huge mistake. The Golden Knights may not have the dynamic all-state star Davion Hill, but what they have is a smooth and dominant team and the same can be said about Bucktail following the Mid Penn Conference clash between the two.
Neumann entered the night at just 2-5, a far cry from a normal start for the Williamsport area powerhouse. Starting off the season with a loaded schedule that included the like of Loyalsock, Holy Cross, Muncy and Hughesville surely helped make the Golden Knights battle tested and it showed against the Bucks.
Tyrick Moy and Messiah Baldwin would run the floor with precision against Bucktail and built a 15-point halftime lead in a tough environment, but somebody forgot to tell Neumann about what these Bucks are known for this season.
Bucktail would dominate the Golden Knights in the second half behind their own duo of stars. Brody Pentz and Braylon Fantaski would go off on Neumann in the second half. Pentz would score 11 of his 22 points in the second half, but it was Braylon Fantaski that would steal the show and nearly bring Bucktail back against the Golden Knights. Fantaski would connect on 5 of 6 three-point baskets in the second half and finish with 22 on the night.
Bucktail drew to within 3 at 61-58 following a Pentz three to start the fourth quarter, but Baldwin and Moy just kept coming at the Bucks. Neumann seemed to score at will in transition and Bucktail could not counter and get the key stops that they desperately needed.
The Bucks outdid Neumann 34-18 in the second half, but the 15-point first half lead that the Golden Knights proved to be too much on this night.
Baldwin led Neumann with 23 points, including 3 three-point baskets. Moy finished with 22 points, all of which came from transition buckets inside. Gino Birch added 13 points and Andrew Walter chipped in 9 for the now 3-5 St. John Neumann Golden Knights.
Brett Mason added 10 points to go along with the 22 points from both Pentz and Fantaski. Bucktail (4-4) will next be in action over the weekend in two huge home games. Montgomery (2-5) visits Bucktail on Friday night and Benton (2-4) visit Farwell on Saturday afternoon. The Saturday contest against the Tigers is set for a JV start at 3pm, with the varsity to follow.
Neumann 20 19 10 8 – 67
Bucktail 14 10 21 13 – 58
Bucktail (58)
Pentz 7 2-4 22, Fantaski 8 0-0 22, Steele 0 2-2 2, Mason 4 0-2 10, Green 1 0-0 2, Pick 0 0-0 0, Whipp 0 0-0 0, TOTALS- 20 4-8 58
3FG- 10 (Fantaski 6, Mason 2, Pentz) Rebounds22 (Pentz 10) Assists- 14 (Pentz 4) Steals- 7 (Fantaski 3) Blocks- 1 (Pick)
