Fantaski and Pentz combine for rare milestone in district title game
By Bees O’Brien
WELLSBORO- Bucktail’s Braylon Fantaski and Brody Pentz pulled off an epic and rare feat in Bucktail’s dramatic 57-49 District IV 1A championship win over Galeton on Wednesday night.
The explosive Bucktail duo would be the first Bucktail teammates to reach the elite 1,000-point club in the same game. To add icing on the cake, it was done in a district championship. The duo may also be the only two to do that in a district title game in District IV history.
Pentz would score 34 points in the game, while Fantaski added 15. Their scoring numbers have been shadowed by this team’s overall success. That’s exactly how these two standouts would rather have it.
Fantaski’s spin move in the second quarter would give him his 1,000 points. It was an incredible accomplishment for a player that missed 85 percent of last season and 3 games this season. He entered the semifinal meeting with Norry needing 45 and he nearly did it in one game by scoring 42 points in that game. Fantaski is currently at 1012 points and with still more games to go he stands at fourteenth place on Bucktail’s all-time scoring list.
Junior Brody Pentz entered the championship game needing 16 points to hit his 1,000 points. He would go off for 34 points and would reach the plateau in the third quarter. By doing so he and his father Dave Pentz became the first father-son tandem to reach 1,000 points at Bucktail. A quarter and a half later they would become the first father-son combination to win a district title at Bucktail.
Jason Paloskey is the all-time leading scorer at Bucktail with 1,768 points. Poloskey reached the mark in 1995.
Bucktail JV coach Mike Charcalla, who coached the Bucks’ varsity program last season was more than thrilled with the pair.
“It’s been a pleasure coaching both of them since 3rd and 4th grade.” said Charcalla “I knew they were both going to be something special.”
Head coach Travis Fantaskey shared the excitement that Charcalla did as well.
“I’m extremely proud of both of them.” added Fantaskey “It’s a once in a lifetime achievement for the school to have two 1,000-point scorers and a district title win in one game.”
Fantaski and Pentz are far from done, too. The Bucks are set to meet Lancaster Christian in the first round of the PIAA 1A State Tournament March 8.
Bucktail 1,000-point scorers (boys)
1995 Jason Paloskey 1,768
1997 Jon Ogden1,355
2014 Chuck Probst1,233
2006 Joe Simon1,203
1968 Bob Poorman1,148
1991 Dave Pentz1,145
2012 AJ Morgan1,132
1993 Chad McGregor1,112
1958 Gary Johnson 1,081
1971 Rick Miller1,072
1070 Gene Bruno1,056
2003 Chris Burrows1,028
2024 Brody Pentz1,018
2024 Braylon Fantaski1,012
1976 Tom Curran Jr.1,002
