However, what it got instead was another disappointing loss.

Though they fought hard to give themselves a shot, the Bucks never led after their opening basket. The Lions responded with an immediate 9-0 run, led by as much as 14 in the third quarter and extinguished every response Bucktail instilled, handing it its third straight loss by a score of 51-40 in front of its packed home crowd.

When asked about the loss, Bucktail head coach Travis Fantaskey didn’t have much to say. The loss not only occurred in what proved to be a winnable matchup; it also marked the team’s seventh of the season and sixth in its last seven games, moving the Bucks down to 2-7 on the season.

“One word. Disgusting,” said Fantaskey on the loss. “That’s all I’ve got.”

KEVIN RAUCH/Special to the Sun-Gazette Bucktail's Corbin Pentz attempts a shot during a boys basketball game against Meadowbrook Christian on Monday, Jan. 5, 2025, at Bucktail. The Bucks fell 51-40.

It wasn’t the ugliest loss, as Bucktail clearly wasn’t stormed off its home court based on the final outcome. The team had strong sequences, got back within one early in the second and created light after a rough start to the third, staying one good run away from turning the game competitive late.

However, it amplified the flaws it’s struggled to correct.

Offensive inconsistency was the biggest hurdle posed by Fantaskey when discussing the team after its opening tournament at Curwensville. And against Meadowbrook Christian, it certainly had its rough moments when it came to maintaining offensive success.

After going down 9-2 midway through the first, the Bucks rattled off an 8-2 run of their own to immediately get back into striking distance. Gavin Pick went 1-for-2 from the line and hit a putback layup, Aiden Ditty nailed a three on an assist from Corbin Pentz to close the first and Pentz converted a layup to open the second, all factors in what should’ve been the spark they needed.

But another four-minute sequence came and went without a basket. And though the Bucks stayed within two possessions for the rest of the stanza, getting back within four twice thanks to layups from Teagan Stone and Pentz, the next four-minute sequence without a basket would prove more costly.

Following an opening layup from Pick to start the third, Bucktail wouldn’t score again until the 2:15 mark of the quarter. In this case, the Meadowbrook offense got going, with Isaac Beltz and Gavin Canelo hitting threes to close out a 10-0 run.

At that point, the Bucks were down by 14. And though their offense managed to cut that deficit to eight with a 6-0 run and found its groove from there, so had the Lions’, and the teams would go blow-for-blow through the fourth. As a result, Bucktail never got it back within two scores, stalling at down eight.

There were still positives to take away from the loss. Though it struggled with turnovers and defensive rebounding, Bucktail had a strong showing on the offensive glass – grabbing 11 offensive rebounds – and at times, displayed great passing.

Gavin Pick produced a solid stat line, finishing second on the team in scoring with 11 points while grabbing a team-leading nine rebounds and dishing out a team-high five assists. He posted an assist in every quarter and three through the second half.

Corbin Pentz had a similar day, leading the team in points with 13, grabbing seven boards and posting three assists and two steals. And Aiden Ditty led the Bucks in offensive rebounds (4) and three-pointers (2), finishing with ten points, eight rebounds and three steals.

For the Bucks, the climb back up to Mid-Penn and playoff relevancy is daunting, but there’s still over half a season to bounce back. Next up, they’ll host league foe Millville on Saturday at 2:30 p.m., where they’ll look to bounce back, put an end to their three-game losing streak and earn their first conference victory.

Meadowbrook Christian 51, Bucktail 40

MEADOWBROOK (51)

Jaeden Canelo 1 0-2 2; Isaac Beltz 4 1-1 10; Gavin Canelo 5 6-7 17; Ryan Eager 2 0-0 5; Luke Fasnacht 2 0-0 5; Griffin Runkle 6 0-0 12. Totals 20 7-10 51.

BUCKTAIL (40)

Gavin Pick 4 3-5 11; Aiden Ditty 4 0-2 10; Teagan Stone 1 0-0 2; Corbin Pentz 5 2-3 13; Otis Emerick 2 0-1 4. Totals 16 5-11 40.

MBCH 11 9 12 19 – 51

BUCK 8 6 8 18 – 40

Three-pointers: Meadowbrook 3 (Beltz, G. Canelo, Fasnacht); Bucktail 3 (Ditty 2, Pentz 1).