Bucktail to meet Galeton in unlikely Cinderella story title game in Wellsboro in Wednesday
By Bees O’Brien
FARWELL-Bucktail’s triumph continues on Wednesday when the fourth-seeded Bucks battle number 6 Galeton Tigers at Wellsboro Area High School on Wednesday, February 28 at 7pm.
The Bucks dominated top ranked Northumberland Christian to advance to the title game, while Galeton shocked second seeded NP-Liberty.
How They Got Here
Bucktail stormed to the finals with dominating wins over two Alleganey Conference teams in Meadowbrook Christian and Norry Christian. Their dominating 73-61 win over the Warriors in the semifinals locked in the program’s first state tournament spot since 1989. Ironically, Bucktail’s double-double king Brody Pentz’s father Dave was a part of that District 6 championship team.
Galeton keeps playing hot. The Tigers were sitting at tenth in District IV and out of the playoffs with two weeks remaining. The Tigers rallied to win games over Williamson and Northern Potter to qualify for playoffs and earn the 6-seed. They then took down neighboring Cowanesque Valley before defeat NP-Liberty to advance to the 1A Championship. It will be the Tigers second-straight game at Wellsboro.
Key Players
Bucktail’s Braylon Fantaski will more than likely be Galeton’s defensive key on Wednesday. Fantaski’s 42-point night was filled with 8 three-point baskets. The Bucktail senior is just 3 points shy of reaching 1,000 points and with an automatic two games left, he should reach that mark.
Brody Pentz’s 15 double-doubles and four-straight to close out the season has been phenomenal. Pentz scored 12 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out 7 assists in Saturday night’s upset win over Norry. The junior is just 16 points shy of reaching 1,000 points. He and Fantaski can join Brody’s dad on that elite list of Bucktail greats.
Brett Mason continues to be huge for the Bucks. The senior has come on strong right when head coach Travis Fantaskey has needed him. Mason scored 12 in the semifinal victory and has balanced out the shooting from beyond the arc for the Bucks with another lethal option.
Gary Whipp’s defense and intensity will be key. Galeton presents a smaller team than the Bucks have seen in the playoffs and that might end up being perfect for the “Mayor of Whippville”.
Johnny Green will have no giant to feast on in this matchup, but the senior can still be just as effective on Wednesday night. He grabbed 8 rebounds against a bigger Norry team and against a smaller Galeton team he will have chances to get more involved on the offensive end.
For Galeton they have 6 seniors with playing experience on their roster. Braiden Cimino leads the Tigers in scoring. Corey Anderson is second with just over 10 points per contest. John Martin has been hot for the Tigers. Martin netted 18 against NP-Liberty in the win. Martin also leads the Tigers in rebounds and blocked shots.
Zach Pagano can score and has multiple times. Pagano and Cimino are both scorching the nets from three. Both are shooting 42 percent from beyond the arc.
The Rest Of The Field
And then there was just two. Both Bucktail and Galeton locked up state playoff berths and will meet in the championship. Back in November I was asked by a Bucktail team member who I thought would be in the district title game and it was these two teams that I said. The Bucks and Tigers should present a classic final in Wellsboro on Wednesday night
NP-Liberty and Norry Christian will meet in Montgomery on Wednesday night to determine District IV 1A’s final state playoff berth.
