Lady Warriors’ fast start dooms Bucktail in semifinals; 50-30 final

By Bees O’Brien

ALLPORT, PA- A 10-0 run to start the game and huge efforts from Jenna Mertz and Katrina Cowder proved to be too much for Bucktail against host West Branch in the West Branch holiday tournament on Wednesday.

The Lady Warriors hit on all cylinders in the first half of play, on their way to a rematch date with Bald Eagle Area in the championship game to be played Thursday. Their 50-30 victory over the Lady Bucks upped their overall record to 4-2 and dropped Bucktail to 4-2 on the season.

West Branch, a District 6 1A playoff team from a season ago used a 10-0 run to start the game. Bucktail’s Alexis Lowery ended the home team’s run with a basket to make it 10-2.

A 10-5 spurt from West Branch to close out the quarter would give them the 20-7 lead after one quarter.
Bucktail fared better at containing the Lady Warriors in the second quarter, but was still outscored 12-9.

Offenses struggled for both teams in the second half with West Branch contained to just 18 total second half points compared to their 20 in the first quarter alone. The Lady Bucks could only muster just 14 second half points to set the final at 50-30.

Mertz led all scorers with 21 points, while Cowder had a big night with a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds.

Mak Wagner led Bucktail with 15 points, including two three-point baskets.

Bucktail was without key reserve forward Kendall Wagner but received a strong effort from Matti Mason. Mason finished with 6 points.

Bucktail will now take on a struggling Harmony team in the consolation round Thursday at 2 p.m. The Lady Owls dropped to 0-5 on the season following their 43-12 loss to Bald Eagle Area earlier in the evening. It will be the first ever meeting between the two schools in girls basketball.

Bucktail          7 9  5  9 = 30
West Branch 20 12 6 12 = 50