Lady Bucks fall to state power South, 50-19
By Bees O’Brien
FARWELL, PA- Bucktail girls basketball coach Carl Gentzyel was well aware of what his Lady Bucks were getting into in their Mid Penn Conference contest with South Williamsport on Friday night in Farwell. The Lady Mounties came into the contest fresh off of a 2A state quarterfinal appearance last season and already an early favorite to capture a second straight district crown.
South also returned plenty of talent from last year’s squad.
Lacey Kriebel and Aleigha Rieppel would both score in double figures and the swarming Lady Mounties defense would hold Bucktail to just 6 first half points, on their way to a 50-19 MPC victory.
A 14-2 and 18-4 South Williamsport advantages to start the first quarter helped put the game away in a hurry. The Lady Bucks didn’t help their cause with 22 turnovers in the contest.
“We never got our offense started and turnovers hurt us all night long.” Coach Gentzyel said of the outing against South.
Bucktail’s struggled from the floor too, only converting six made baskets all game.
The second half was more of the Lady Mounties. South used a 17-3 third quarter to build their lead to 49-7 entering the final quarter of play.
With the reserves in during the fourth quarter, the Lady Bucks picked up some positive vibes by outscoring South 12-1 to set the final.
Mak Wagner led Bucktail with 8 points, including a pair of three-point baskets. Matti Mason, Kayla Probert and Eva Sockman all added 3 points and Lily Fancis netted two points to go along with her team high 8 rebounds.
Kriebel led South with 16 points and Reippel finished with 14 points for the now 6-4 Lady Mounties.
Bucktail dropped to 5-4 on the season, but still holds the number 3 spot in the current District IV 1A standings.
Bucktail will have a major contest on Tuesday in what could be a preview of district play when they travel to 5-5 Millville. They will then hit the road again when they travel to another important 1A contest at Sullivan County on Friday.
