Hill, Neumann take down Bucktail 80-42
By Bees O’Brien
WILLIAMSPORT, PA- Bucktail’s Brody Pentz had multiple opportunities to pad his scoring total during the final few minutes of regulation on Tuesday night in the Bucks’ clash with St. John Neumann, but not Pentz and not the 2023 Bucks’ squad. He and other teammates continued to feed freshman Nate Steele the ball in hopes that he would connect. Steele did just that and sunk a jumper for his second basket of the season. The jubilant Steele then raced down the court to the cheers of the Bucktail fans that made the trip to Williamsport. Like a true leader, Brody Pentz would calm down Steele and show him his defensive assignment. You would have never guessed that this was the closing seconds of a 38-point 80-42 loss to the Golden Knights.
The last time the Bucks met Neumann during last season, St. John Neumann scored at will and racked up a 102-52 win. It wasn’t that easy this time around for the Golden Knights.
Turnovers and fast transition points would lead to the Knights racing out to an impressive 23-5 lead after one quarter, but Bucktail wouldn’t give up.
The Bucks powered behind Pentz, whose lockdown defense on the best player in the state Davion Hill in the second quarter would give his squad new life.
Hill was visibly frustrated by Pentz and was held to just 5 second quarter points after a huge 10-point first quarter. Bucktail’s Will Steele would deliver a pair of three-point baskets and Bucktail would only score one less point at 15-14 in the frame and closed the gap to 38-19 at the half.
St. John Neumann felt a sense of urgency and began to pressure Bucktail. Turnovers off of bad passes led the fast-paced offense of Neumann to start to open things up again. Hill would be better suited in this environment as the Division I prospect would score 12 points in the third quarter.A 26-10 Neumann third quarter would build their lead to 64-29.
Davion Hill remained in the game in the fourth quarter and would connect on a pair of three-point baskets to finish with a game-high 33 points, two points below his season average.
Coach Mike CHarcalla praised his underdog Bucks for the solid effort and he was especially pleased with Kyler Friese’s play underneath.
Friese was tasked with covering Neumann’s outstanding 6’4” center Joe Savage. Savage was fresh off of a 21-point game against Muncy and last year’s Mid Penn Conference player of the year in Ross Eyer. Friese at only 5’7” gave up 9 inches to Savage, but held him to just 12 points.
“He hustled his tail off being undersized” Charcalla commented “Pulled down rebounds and played great defense.”
Pentz collected his seventh double-double of the season by finishing with 16 points and 12 rebounds and the big assist to Nate Steele. Johnny Green continued his hot hand and finished with 10 points for the Bucks. Will Steele scored 6 points, Friese added 4 points and Brett Mason, Gary Whipp and Nate Steele each scored 2 points apiece to round out the Bucks’ scoring.
Bucktail dropped to 5-8 on the season and slipped to sixth in the current 1A District IV standings. St. John Neumann improved to 13-4 and currently hold the top spot in the 2A standings.
Bucktail will return to action in a huge road game on Friday when they travel to Montgomery for their first meeting with the 8-9 Red Raiders. This is a critical contest for both squads and will go a long way in the playoff standings. Montgomery is on the verge of clinching a 2A spot.
