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)