Bucktail seeks retribution in their chance to extend season
By Bees O’Brian
FARWELL- Bucktail’s quest to repeat as PIAA District IV champions didn’t go as planned on Saturday afternoon when top-seeded NP-Liberty bounced the Bucks 67-55, but the Cherry & White have another path to the state playoffs. That path begins with a return trip to Loyalsock on Wednesday to face a bitter rival in Sullivan County (!3-11) in the District IV 1A Consolation game.
District IV is granted three berths in 1A. Bucktail (11-12) can become the first team in school history to qualify for the state field in back-to-back campaigns and join NP-Liberty and Lourdes Regional in the 32-team state playoffs.
The Bucks and Griffins already met once this season. Sullivan County edged Bucktail 59-56 on January 17 in LaPorte. This time around, Sullivan County will be without a home court advantage against a Bucktail team that has played twice in the past two seasons at Loyalsock Township High School.
In that first meeting, Bucktail seen a 9-point first half lead disappear following a 37-29 second half advantage by Sullivan County. Ethan Charcalla paced the Bucks with 16 points. Leading scorers Gary Whipp and Brody Pentz were both held to just 7 points.
Pentz has been powering the Bucks lately and his 19 points and 11 rebounds in their semifinal loss proved just that. The Bucks shot at a state playoff game goes through the senior Mid Penn Conference All-Star.
Whipp meanwhile was held to just 3 points against the Mounties on Saturday. Bucktail will need more of an offensive presence from their senior guard Wednesday night.
Talan Ditty and his brother Aidan Ditty have become a tough combination down the stretch for the Bucks. Talan’s 12 rebounds in the semifinals led Bucktail. Gavin Pick has begun to catch a hot streak on offense. The sophomore netted 13 points against NP-Liberty.
Mid Penn All Stars Tucker Blasi and Lucas King lead a tough and gritty Griffin squad into Wednesday’s consolation game. Cayden Smithkors is another player to watch for Sullivan County. Smithkors hit a game winning shot at the end of overtime to help the Griffins defeat Wyalusing down the stretch.
Wednesday night at 7:30 in Loyalsock is when these two Mid Penn rivals meet for a chance to face the District 2/11 champion, which will more than likely be Bethlehem Christian in the first round of the state playoffs in 1A.
