Bucks drop 61-59 thriller at home to St. John Neumann
By Bees O’Brien
FARWELL- It’s been a long time since Bucktail defeated St. John Neumann on the basketball court. So long ago that nobody seems to remember for sure that the last time the Bucks defeated the Golden Knights. The late 1990’s might possibly be when the Bucks defeated Neumann, but again nobody is sure on that fact.
The Bucks will have to wait until their next meeting with Neumann to possibly pick up the win following their 61-59 home loss to the previously winless 2A private school from Williamsport.
The Bucks opened the game in commanding fashion and led 18-12 after one quarter of play. It was the Ditty brothers of Aiden and Talan that carried Bucktail in the first frame. Aiden scored 6 of his career-high 12 points in the quarter and Talan netted 4 points.
St. John Neumann fought back hard with a 17-11 advantage in the second quarter to knot things up at 29-29 at the break.
Behind 8 third quarter points from Gary Whipp, Bucktail used a 21-18 third quarter to gain a three-point lead heading into the final quarter.
Daiton Thompson scored just 6 points in the first half, but his 18 second half points proved to be the spark that the Golden Knights needed. Thompson netted 9 points in the fourth, part of a 14-9 Neumann advantage to let the Golden Knights escape Farwell with the win.
Brody Pentz led the Bucks with 19 points and 9 rebounds, while Whipp added 13 points to go along with Aiden Ditty’s 12 points.
Thompson led St. John Neumann (1-4, 1-2) 24 points and Andrew Walter added 15 points for the winners.
Bucktail ( 2-4, 1-3) will be off until Friday when they are set to travel to Ulysses to meet District 9’s Northern Potter.
