Bucktail Stuns South Williamsport
By Bees O’Brien
FARWELL- South Williamsport head coach Joe Simon enjoyed a successful career playing for the Bucktail Bucks basketball program. Simon, a 1,000-point scorer had only lost once to his alma mater while coaching the Mounties. On Wednesday night in Farwell, Brody Pentz, Gary Whipp and the rest of the Bucks made it two.
Pentz dropped in 27 points, Whipp scored 16 and Bucktail’s impressive second half effort lifted the Bucks to a huge 62-50 win over the much larger 3A program.
Both teams blistered the nets from the start, but it was South streaking out to a 21-15 lead after one quarter.
The Bucks continued to struggle with turnovers in the second quarter, but despite giving away 8 turnovers in the frame were only outscored 13-12.
Trailing 34-27 at the break, it was Bucktail’s turn to show exactly what kind of team they were. Ethan Charcalla knotted things up at 40-40 following his first basket of the night with 2 minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Just 11 seconds later, Pentz went to work. The Bucktail senior’s four straight points from the foul line gave Bucktail their first lead of the night at 44-40.
Bucktail’s 19-6 third quarter run proved to be the difference.
Now with a 46-40 lead entering the fourth quarter, it was Talan Ditty’s turn to take the wind out of the Mounties sails. Pentz found Ditty on consecutive baskets to give the Bucks a 50-46 lead with 4:40 remaining in the game.
South Williamsport struggled with the speed of Gary Whipp all night long. Whipp extended Bucktail’s lead to 52-47 and then by two more points following a pair of free throws with 3:30 remaining in the game.
The Bucks extended the lead to 8 points following another basket and a pair of free throws from Charcalla.
The Bucks were up 10 with a minute remaining when Simon and one of his assistants were whistled for a double technical foul.
A pair of Pentz free throws extended the lead to 62-50, which set the final.
Pentz added 9 rebounds to go with his game-high 27 points. Whipp’s 16 points and 6 rebound night was critical in the victory. Senior Talan Ditty’s hard play and hustle was also a factor. Ditty finished with 6 points, 9 rebounds and a pair of critical steals in the game’s final minutes of play. Charcalla finish with 8 huge second half points.
Radley Knapp led South Williamsport with 16 points.
Bucktail (8-9) now must regroup and gear up for another big matchup on Friday night when they travel to Meadowbrook Christian (6-7) in what could be a District IV 1A quarterfinal playoff preview.
South Williamsport dropped to 12-6 overall on the season.
South 21 13 6 10 50
Bucktail
Bucktail-62
Pentz 8 11-17 27, Whipp 4 5-9 16, Pick 1 0-0 3, T. Ditty 3 0-0 6, Charcalla 3 2-2 8, A. Ditty 2 1-2 5, TOTALS- 20 19-30 62
3FG-2 (Whipp, Pick) Rebounds- 33 (Pentz 9, T. Ditty 9)Steals-12 (Pentz 3, Whipp 3, Pick 3) Assists-11 (Pentz 7) Blocks- 1 (Pentz)
