Northwest uses crisp play to run over Bucktail, 73-31
By Bees O’Brien
FARWELL, PA- Northwest is one of the top teams in the Mid Penn Conference. The East Division champions showed why on Saturday afternoon at Bucktail. The visiting Rangers drilled seven three-point baskets and had six players reach double figures in scoring enroute to their 73-31 mercy rule victory.
Northwest (14-3) only led Bucktail (5-7) 11-7 with two minutes remaining in the first quarter. The Rangers would close the quarter on an 8-0 run to take the 19-7 lead after one quarter of play.
Northwest would hit on 10 field goals in the second quarter and their 27-8 advantage in the frame would put an end to the home squad’s chances of extending their three-game winning streak. The Rangers led Bucktail 46-15 at the half.
A 20-7 third quarter advantage by the Rangers with the clock running continuously would see the Bucks facing a 44-point deficit heading into the final frame.
Despite the score, this was a very fast paced and physical second half.
Brody Pentz played a tough game for Bucktail. The sophomore would power in 7 of his team-high 13 points in the second half. The Bucks did manage a 9-7 fourth quarter advantage, but it would be too late for the Cherry and White.
The Bucks will now hit the road on Wednesday for a Mid Penn Conference divisional game against PIAA finalists from a season ago in St. John Neumann. It will be Bucktail’s first meeting against state player of the year Davion Hill and the Golden Knights
“It’ll be a tough task to try and stop Hill.” Coach Mike Charcalla said of the impending contest with Neumann (11-4).
Northwest 19 27 20 7 = 73
Bucktail 7 8 7 9 = 31
BUCKTAIL- Pentz 6 1-5 13, Whipp 3 1-3 7, Mason 3 0-0 6, Green 1 1-4 4, Friese 0 0-0 0, Ditty 0 0-0 0, Charcalla 0 0-0 0, Kalafut 0 0-0 0, W. Steele 0 0-0 0, Shearer 0 0-0 0, TOTALS- 13 3-12 31
3FG- 1 (Green) Rebounds- 20 (Pentz 6)
