Bucktail’s historic season ends in 53-51 heartbreaker to Lancaster County Christian
By Bees O’Brien
MILL HALL-Bucktail’s incredible rise to the elite of PIAA basketball came to a sudden end in the PIAA 1A State Playoffs first round to Lancaster County Christian out of District 3.
The Bucks controlled the Lions for much of the game in a back-and-forth war at Central Mountain’s gymnasium on Friday night, but the District 3 fourth place finishers would erase a three-point deficit going into the game’s final quarter and escape with a 53-51 victory to advance to the round of 16.
The Bucks opened the game hot. Johnny Green would take a pair of inside dishes from Brody Pentz and convert. Green would also deliver on two free throws and score 6 of the Bucks’ 17 first quarter points to take the 17-14 lead after one.
The Lions would outscore Bucktail 8-6 in the second quarter, but were still unable to lead after the end of the frame. The Bucks would take a 23-22 lead into the locker room.
The Bucks would continue to fight off questionable calls in the third quarter and at times held leads of five and six points, before a pair of Aaron McCartney three-point baskets rallied the lions to pull within two at 37-35 after three quarters.
Lancaster County Christian would finally claim the lead on the Bucks for good following another McCartney three with 3 minutes remaining in the game. It wouldn’t be long until Bucktail’s foul trouble would become a factor. Pentz would foul out shortly after the Lions took the lead.
Green would drill a three-point basket with 22 seconds remaining just before he would pick up his fifth foul to bring the score to 51-48.
The Lions would allow Bucktail to stay in the game, due to their poor free throw shooting. Lancaster County Christian shot just 4 of 17 from the line.
Bucktail would score with 8 seconds left and Green’s replacement Xander Shearer nearly intercepted an inbounds play with his team down 53-51. Logan Esbenshade would come up with the inbound pass, roll on the floor and Shearer would tie him up. Rather than the travel call, Shearer would be whistled for the foul.
Again the Lions would struggle from the line, missing both bonus attempts. The Bucks last miracle effort would fall short.
The huge Bucktail crowd let out frustration. They, however surrounded their fallen heroes and embraced their historic season and efforts.
Braylon Fantaski, the Bucktail senior gunslinger would score a game-high 19 points. Fantaski ends an excellent career with 1,031 points, passing Chris Burrows for eleventh all-time on the Bucktail scoring list, but even sweeter was a district title and a state playoff appearance.
Brody Pentz would finish with 10 points and 10 rebounds for his seventeenth double-double of the season. Nobody in District IV has accomplished that feat this season. Pentz, a junior now has 1,028 career points, tied with Burrows for twelfth. Pentz, only a junior has plenty more games left to play and will be looking to bring another District 4 title back to Bucktail.
Johnny Green also finished in double figures with 10 points in his final game as a Buck.
Noah McCartney led Lancaster County Christian with 14 points and Aaron McCartney finished with 9 points.
The Lions (18-10) will now meet tournament favorites Berlin Brothersvalley in the next round. Berlin stomped a very good Conemaugh Valley team 81-53 on Friday night.
Bucktail finished 14-12 on the season.
Lancaster Christian14 8 13 18 = 53
Bucktail 17 6 14 14 = 51
Bucktail (51)
Pentz 3 4-5 10, Steele 1 0-0 2, Fantaski 5 7-9 19, Mason 1 0-0 3, Green 3 3-4 10, Whipp 1 1-2 3, Pick 0 4-4 4, Shearer 0 0-0 0, TOTALS- 13 19-24 51
3FG- 3 (Fantaski 2, Green, Mason) Rebounds- 23 (Pentz 10) Assists- 7 (Pentz 4) Steals- 8 (Pentz 5) Blocks- 2 (Green, Pick)
