Bucktail in playoff hunt following 45-36 win over Millville
By Bees O’Brien
FARWELL, PA- Improbable would be the best word to describe the Bucktail boys basketball teams season thus far. The Bucks won their third straight game on Thursday night and have played their way into potentially earning a PIAA District IV 1A playoff spot.
Bucktail dominated the Quakers in their rematch on the boards and used strong free throws down the stretch to drop the visitors and earnt their third straight victory.
Brody Pentz was dominant throughout the contest and would score 16 points and grab an amazing 19 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the season.
“He’s the engine to this train.” Charcalla said of Pentz. “He just needs a couple to step up every game.”
His emerging supporting cast would do just that.
Bucktail fell behind 17-0 two weeks ago at Millville, but Johnny Green would continue to play his best varsity basketball of his career. The Bucktail sharpshooter would drill a pair of three-point baskets to start the Bucks off hot. Pentz added a basket, but Millville held a 9-8 lead after one quarter.
It was Brett Mason’s turn in the second quarter. Mason would connect on two buckets and baskets from Pentz and Green would make up the Bucktail scoring. Millville managed a 9-8 second quarter edge and held an 18-16 lead at the half.
Pentz would lead a 13-6 Bucktail third quarter charge with 6 points and another Bucktail unsung hero in Kyler Friese would come through for the Bucks. Friese would score all 5 of his points in the frame and would add 6 rebounds on the night.
Bucktail led 29-24 heading into the game’s final quarter.
9 of Bucktail’s 16 fourth quarter points would come from the charity stripe. Pentz would sink 4 freebies, Mason added 3 and Gary Whipp connected on a pair. Mason would finish his night with 9 points.
Green would strike again in the fourth with his third trifecta and finished with 11 points.
The Bucks’ 16-12 fourth quarter would set the final and improved them to 5-6 on the season.
Hayden Weaver and Tommy Kraintz led the Quakers with 11 each.
The win catapulted Bucktail to fifth in the current District 4 1A standings, just ahead of Galeton and well within striking distance of the four spot and a home playoff game currently held by Cowanesque Valley.
The road to complete the most unlikely playoff run in District IV won’t be easy. Bucktail finishes their season against seven opponents that all will be in the 2A district tournament. Their lone remaining 1A opponents in Austin and Galeton are also in the playoff hunt.
Bucktail is set to begin their quest against a very solid Northwest (13-3) Rangers team in Farwell on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. This game will be livestreamed on The Record Online. The Bucktail Lady Bucks will meet Northwest following the boys’ matchup.
