Buck Boys Seek .500
by Jim Morgan
FARWELL – The Bucktail Bucks (7-9) are playing great ball right now and are hoping to carry that momentum into February as they travel to Columbia-Montour Vo-Tech on Saturday for an afternoon matinee at 1:00 PM.
Bucktail last Thursday went into Millville and played two different halves to win 68-66. Coach Dave Pentz pointed out that it was “one of those games that everything we threw up was going in.” Bucktail shot 54% (25-46) from the field and 70% (14-20) from the charity stripe and when you have that kind of combination going,pretty much you should be on the winning side of the game.
Seniors Chuck Probst and Trent Risley were on fire from the tip-off as the both of them combined for all 22 points in the first quarter as the Bucks led 22-11. Coach Pentz pointed out to both of them to continue to drive to the basket, “They have nobody that can stop either of you.”
Risley finished the game with 27 points and 8 rebounds, Probst with 26 points. In the second quarter they received some help from other teammates as Ryan Prebble and Ryan Fantaskey started ripping down boards. Prebble with 10 and Fantaskey have 9 rebounds during the game. These two have been coming on more and more as they are adding important points on the scoreboard.
Willie Hopkins has become a big time scrapper out there, driving opponents crazy out front and underneath as he has been averaging 5 rebounds per game. Bucktail had Millville on the rope with the lead 36-22 at halftime.
Like everybody would say, “there are always two sides to the story”. Millville came out adjusted on defense as the Bucks tried to rely on their outside shooting. With the rim not giving the bounces like in the first half, Millville was able to get the rebounds and run the court as they outscored the Bucks in the third quarter 24-13. Fantaskey had a big third quarter for Bucktail as he scored all 6 of his points. Millville was able to knock that Bucktail lead down to 49-46 to start the fourth quarter.
Probst and Risley, again taking the team on their backs, started to go back to what got the Bucks the lead. “Driving to the hoop!” Coach Pentz replied. Bucktail in the final quarter shot (11-15) from the charity stripe and this time it was Risley going a perfect (6-6). Millville had the lead (66-60) with one minute left, with Probst and Josh Knauff having attempts at the line to make it a 66-64 game. With 20 seconds on the clock, they put Risley on the line. Coach Pentz called a timeout.
Risley stepped up to sink both foul shots. Then the unexpected happens. A Bucktail player fouled on the in-bound play. Millville player miss the first of a one-on-one and the Bucks were off and running, as Millville fouled Risley again on the lay-up. Risley this time showing no pressure, he sank both foul shots for the 68-66 victory. Millville did have time to get a three-ball off but it was short. Millville did outscore the Bucks in the second half 44-32. “What a game. The boys showed a lot of heart and pride out there. They can be proud of that victory,” said coach Pentz.
In the JV game it was all Millville as they beat the Bucks 69-31. High scorer for the Bucks was Mitch Intallura with 14.
On Saturday it was up to the boys to complete the sweep of Canton as both JV games and girls varsity were already won by the Bucks. This time the Bucks were going to be on the other end of the half as Bucktail came from behind to win 65-52 for the sweep. It was a great day of basketball here at Bucktail High School as the snow held off for Canton to head safely home.
Bucktail started out cold as Canton was not missing a shot for a 15-7 lead at the end of the first quarter. Probst hit a couple of baskets as Risley was being stopped. Fantaskey and Prebble played great underneath again as they prevented Canton not to run away with the game in the first half. Canton opened their lead up to as much as 14 points in the second quarter. This before the Bucks went on a 12-2 run before the half as Canton led 33-30. Prebble and Fantaskey combined for 8 of those 23 total points in the quarter as they cleaned the offensive rebounds late in the quarter.
In the third quarter, Canton came out cold as the Bucks got going with Risley, Probst, Fantaskey, Prebble and Knauff all scoring in transition. Hopkins had some outstanding assists for his fellow teammates as the Bucks stormed past Canton for the lead 51-42. Coach Pentz gave them the old boxing out speech at halftime, Probst and Risley responding by ripping off 7 boards a piece on the defensive side.
Canton lost total control of the game as they put the Bucks on the charity stripe 22 times in the second half. Bucktail was taking control of the ball in the last 2:46 of the game, Canton had no choice but to foul them in order to get the ball back. With the Bucks hitting from the charity stripe, Canton could not find the bottom of the net in the last quarter.
The JV game saw Bucktail control the tempo throughout the game as the Bucks won 47-36. Bucktail’s high scorer was Josh Knauff 15.
For Bucktail, it was a good start to the game as they jumped out to a 14-12 lead in the first quarter against Meadowbrook Christian this past Monday. In the second quarter, Meadowbrook went on a 10-0 run before the Bucks would score a basket. Meadowbrook would never give the lead back up as they went into the locker room up 31-25.
Meadowbrook at one point extended the lead to as much as 14 points. Bucktail did answer with a nice run themselves as they would only get within 6 points before the end of the third quarter. Probst scored 13 of his total 27 points in this quarter as Meadowbrook outscored the Bucks 25-23. In this half , Meadowbrook had the hot hand as they continued to extend the lead in the fourth quarter to the final score of 81-66.
Trent Risley tried helping Probst on the scoring side as he scored 23. Ryan Prebble had a good game as he posted a double-double on the evening with 12 rebounds and 12 points. Bucktail did not have the defensive answer. Four Meadowbrook players scored in double digits as they started five juniors.
In the JV game Bucktail was able to hold the lead until the fourth quarter as Meadowbrook won 30-25. Josh Knauff was high scorer with 9 points.
This Saturday, the Bucks travel to CMVT for a 1:00 PM tip-off. Monday the Bucks will have a rematch with Millville starting at 6:00 PM. Both these games will be good rematches as the Bucks won against both of them 70-65 and 68-66 respectively. GOOD LUCK BUCKS!!!
Bucks 22 14 13 19-68
Millville 11 11 24 20-66
Bucks: Trent Risley 9 6-6 27, Willie Hopkins 1 0-0 2, Derrick Long 0 0-0 0, Chuck Probst 10 5-8 26, Josh Knauff 0 1-2 1, Ryan Prebble 2 2-2 6, Ryan Fantaskey 3 0-2 6, Total: 25 14-20 68
Millville: B. Kittle 1 1-2 3, J. Soloman 7 0-0 19, D. Sinegra 2 0-0 4, L. Heffner 2 0-0 2, M. Steiner 1 0-1 2, A. Fought 9 4-7 22, A. Ovelman 7 0-0 14, Total: 29 5-10 66
3-Pointers: Bucks 4 (Risley 3, Probst) Millville 5 (Soloman 5)
Bucks JV: Tristan Schelb 0 0-0 0, Tyler Riggle 1 0-0 2, Derrick Long 3 0-0 7, Keifer Mason 0 0-0 0, Mike Casper 0 2-2 2, Mitch Intallura 6 2-4 14, Josh Knauff 3 0-0 6, Trent Bixler 0 0-0 0, Total: 13 4-6 31.
Canton 15 18 9 10-52
Bucks 7 23 21 14-65
Bucks: Trent Risley 7 10-11 24, Willie hopkins 0 1-3 1, Derrick Long 1 0-0 2, Chuck Probst 5 7-11 17, Josh Knauff 2 3-4 7, Ryan Prebble 3 0-2 6, Ryan Fantaskey 4 0-2 8, Total: 22 21-33 65
Canton: R. Moore 0 2-4 2, K. Moon 1 1-2 3, C. Thoren 1 0-0 2, M. Moore 8 0-0 17, J. Lattimer 8 0-1 17, C. Whitehead 0 0-0 0, T. Sawtell 5 1-4 11, Total: 23 4-11 52
3-Pointers: Bucks 0 Canton 2 (M. Moore, Lattimer)
Bucks JV: Tristan Schelb 0 0-0 0, Tyler Riggle 2 2-6 7, Derrick Long 1 0-0 2, Keifer Mason 2 3-6 8, Mike Casper 1 0-1 2, Mitch Intallura 3 1-2 7, Josh Knauff 6 1-2 15, Trent Bixler 3 0-0 6, Total: 17 7-17 47. Bucks 14 11 23 18-66
Meadowbrook 12 19 25 25-81
Bucks: Trent Risley 6 7-10 23, Willie Hopkins 0 0-0 0, Derrick Long 0 0-0 0, Chuck Probst 11 5-9 25, Josh Knauff 1 0-0 2, Ryan Prebble 6 0-5 12, Ryan Fantaskey 0 0-0 0, Total: 24 12-25 66
Meadowbrook: T. Baughman 6 0-1 12, D. Shower 6 4-4 18, A. Sohett 7 0-0 17, K. Rednicki 9 1-1 19, D. Duncan 3 0-3 6, D. Pinkett 2 1-2 5, T. Froster 1 0-0 2, E. Shultis 1 0-0 2, Total: 35 6-11 81
3-Pointers: Bucks 4 (Risley 4) Meadowbrook 5 (Shower 2, Sohett 3)
Bucks JV: Tristan Schelb 0 0-0 0, Tyler Riggle 0 0-2 0, Derrick Long 2 3-5 8, Keifer Mason 0 0-2 0, Mike Casper 0 0-0 0, Mitch Intallura 1 0-2 2, Josh Knauff 3 3-6 9, Trent Bixler 3 0-0 6, Total: 9 6-17 25.
