Fantaski, Pentz lead Bucks to victory in MPC opener over Benton, 60-41

By Bees O’Brien

BENTON, PA- When your playoff strategy lives and dies off of the District 4 power ratings system, you must win every single game that you’re supposed to on paper. That’s exactly what Bucktail was faced with on Monday night in their Mid Penn Conference opener in Benton against the winless Tigers.

Brody Pentz scored his fourth straight double-digit game and Braylon Fantaski netted 27 as the Bucks rolled past Benton 60-41 to improve to 2-2 on the season and 1-0 in conference play. The win was good enough to boost them to fourth in the D4 1A standings early on in the season.

Tanner Pettingill set the pace early for the Bucks on the defensive side of things. Pettingill didn’t score a single point in the contest, but he commanded the defensive boards for Bucktail time and time again in the first half. He and Pentz also collected some big blocked shots to set the early tone.

Bucktail jumped out to a quick 19-10 first quarter lead, that would swell to 34-14 at the break. Braylon Fantaski’s 12 second quarter points were a huge contributing factor that complimented the defensive presence from Pentz, Pettingill, Will Steele and Brett Mason.

The Tigers attempted to get themselves back into the contest early in the second half with a full court press that didn’t gain Benton anything. Both squads netted 9 each and Bucktail still held a 20-point lead heading into the final quarter.

With head coach Gene Bruno’s JV unit finishing up most of the final quarter, Benton did grab an 18-17 advantage in the fourth quarter to set the final.

Pentz has now scored in double figures in all four of the Bucks’ contests this season. He finished with 18 to go along with Fantaski’s 27. Fantaski connected on 3 three-point baskets in the game after failing to connect on a single one from beyond the arc against Northern Potter last Wednesday.

Beishline led Benton with 15 points and Lewis added 13 for the Tigers.

The Bucks will now return home on Monday night when they host fellow MPC West rival Montgomery (3-1, 2-0). The Red Raiders struggled at Benton to start the season and only won by a count of 42-39.

 

Bucktail                19           15           9              17     =      60

Benton                 10           4              9              18     =       41

 

BUCKTAIL

Fantaski 8 2-2  27, Pentz 7 4-8 18, W. Steele 2 1-4  6, Mason 1 2-4  5, Whipp 1 0-0  2, Ditty 1 0-0  2, Pettingill 0 0-0  0, Green 0 0-3  0, Shearer 0 0-2  0, N. Steele 0 0-0  0, Charcalla 0 0-0  0,

TOTALS- 23 9-23  60

3FG- 5 (Fantaski 3, Mason, W. Steele)