Galeton late rally stuns Bucks 56-53 on Pink Out Night
By Bees O’Brien
FARWELL, PA- Bucktail head coach Mike Charcalla couldn’t have been happier with how things started out Thursday night for his Bucks during the annual “Pink Out” clash with District IV rival Galeton. The Bucks started off on fire and raced out to a quick 10-0 lead to start the game, but how quickly things can change.
Brody Pentz and Gary Whipp were firing on all cylinders in the game’s opening quarter, but the Galeton Tigers knew what was at stake in this late season clash with huge playoff ramifications.
Bucktail and Galeton were dueling it out for a home court game in the upcoming PIAA District IV Class A playoffs. The Tigers would respond with a massive 12-4 run of their own to close out the opening quarter. Bucktail led 14-12 after one, but no lead was safe in this game.
The pace in the second quarter would slow down and favor the visiting Tigers. Galeton would use a 9-6 second quarter to hold a narrow 21-20 lead at halftime.
The Bucks would once again erupt for a huge quarter. They would outscore Galeton 19-12 during the second half’s opening quarter and build a 39-33 lead heading into the game’s final quarter.
That lead would swell to 11 points with just over 5 minutes remaining in the game, but Galeton would take advantage of Bucktail foul troubles and hurried shots to claw their way back into the game.
Bucktail’s strategy to stop the Tigers’ leading scorer Braiden Cimino paid off, holding him to just 5 points on the night. It would be John Martin and Corey Anderson that did most of the damage in the fourth quarter.
The junior duo would time after time drive in on the Bucks and convert uncontested layups. Foul trouble had Bucktail playing on their heels and allowing Galeton to score at will.
A 24-14 fourth quarter surge from Galeton would help them escape Farwell with a huge District IV win, that nearly didn’t happen. A sloppy inbounds play with 1 second left would be stolen by Brody Pentz and his quick heave from three would just miss. The shot would have sent the game to overtime, but it wasn’t meant to be as Galeton held on 56-53.
Martin finished with 16 for the Tigers and Anderson scored 15.
Pentz collected his 10th double-double of the season by scoring 21 points and grabbing 15 rebounds. Whipp got back into the scoring groove for the Bucks by netting 15 points. Brett Mason and Johnny Green each added 6 points. Kyler Friese didn’t score, but was vital on the defensive end and also grabbed 7 rebounds.
Bucktail fell to 5-11 and will be in action Friday night on the road in South Williamsport (13-8). The Bucks still need one more win to be assured a Top 8 finish and a spot in the District 4 1A playoff field.
Galeton improved to 9-12 and appears to be the favorite to grab the coveted 4 seed home court quarterfinal spot. The Tigers close out regular season Friday night at Coudersport. An upset over the Falcons should help them jump Cowanesque Valley in the standings. CV lost their final regular season contest to Sayre Thursday night.
Galeton 12 9 12 24 = 56
Bucktail 14 6 19 14 = 53
BUCKTAIL- Pentz 6 9-12 21, Whipp 6 3-6 15, Green 2 0-2 6, Mason 2 2-3 6, Steele 1 3-4 5, Friese 0 0-2 0, Charcalla 0 0-0 0, Ditty 0 0-0 0, Shearer 0 0-0 0, TOTALS- 17 17-29 53
3FG- 2 (Green 2) Rebounds- 37 (Pentz 15) Blocks-1 (Mason)
