It was not that Bucktail won Saturday which highlighted its improvement. It was how it won.

Playing without second-leading scorer Kendall Wagner, Bucktail dug deep, rallied in the fourth quarter and defeated St. John Neumann, 52-47 at Frank Lupacchino Court. Three players reached double figures, freshman Emma George hit a clutch fourth quarter shot and the young Bucks (9-7) exceeded last year’s win total.

Bucktail started three freshmen against Neumann, so this was a game which epitomized how a team which fought to fill out its roster last year has put itself in the hunt for a first round District 4 Class A quarterfinal.

“This was a huge win. I always look to the future to try and build the program. I’ve only been here three years with this group of girls, so next year when I don’t have Eva (Sockman) and Kendall, what does our future look like?” Bucktail coach Suellen Wagner said. “Being able to use three freshmen starters who are getting better and learning the game and the flow of it was big for us. I’m super proud of them.”

Not only is Bucktail young grade-wise but experience-wise. Freshmen starters Olivia Henderson and Kaitlyn Paloskey did not play basketball until two years ago. Henderson dealt four assists and Paloskey grabbed three boards against Neumann, while fellow freshman George hit a jumper to put Bucktail up, 42-40 with 5 minutes, 20 seconds remaining.

Add that to Sockman generating 18 points and 15 rebounds with freshman Kelsie Wagner going for a game-high 19 points and Bucktail showed why both the present and future could be exciting.

“I keep just talking about how we have to communicate with each other because that’s how teams win. We did a good job with that,” Wagner said. “We played hard. We’re gritty and small and scrappy but we find a way.”

“We’re more confident. People are more willing to shoot, and we’re making our foul shots,” Kelsie Wagner said. “I don’t think we’ve beaten this team in a while. It felt great to beat them.”

Without Kendall Wagner, who also is an accomplished wrestler, Bucktail needed multiple players to step up. Arionna Winkelman did so immediately, scoring her team’s first eight points and helping the Bucks settle in. She finished with a career-high 11 points, added six rebounds and her free throw with 2:26 left put Bucktail up, 45-44.

“Everybody shot a lot and did good things, but hers going in was what really got us started,” Kelsie Wagner said. “Her (coach Wagner) saying is that we have to stay put together and we did.”

Kelsie Wagner has put together a strong debut season, averaging 14.8 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. She delivered under pressure against Neumann, draining a long jumper with 85 seconds remaining which put Bucktail ahead to stay.

Wagner has a nice blend of speed, height and savvy. Her developing so fast has provided another vital brick in Bucktail’s successful foundation.

“It’s good that she’s getting this experience under her belt,” Suellen Wagner said. “She’s learning how to be a leader and how to talk.”

Bucktail winning how it did Saturday could help several players embrace leadership roles. In a tough spot against a vastly improved team, different players made big plays at crucial times. The Bucks have come a long way since early December and Saturday’s game highlighted that.

It was an especially strong response after Northwest snapped Bucktail’s four-game winning streak three nights earlier. Instead of looking back, the Bucks kept forging forward.

“You’re on the road and feel a little discouraged (after the loss) and I wondered how this was going to go and they came out punching,” Suellen Wagner said. “We preach calm, cool and collected. Even when things are rough, you have to stay calm, cool and collected. They did that really well. It’s good that even when we’re missing one of our main leaders that everyone can step up.”

NIGHT AND DAY

Despite the loss, Neumann also continued showing its growth as well. The 3-11 record might not show it, but the Knights are one of the area’s most improved teams since this season started.

Like Bucktail, Neumann is young and inexperienced with freshmen Kaydance Meixel and Brooklyn Clabaugh having abbreviated junior high games due to lack of players. Still, the Knights nearly won for the third time in four games and scored 109 points while splitting games against CMVT and Bucktail last week.

“That’s one of the main reasons I coach. I like to see the development of them dribbling a ball off their foot to making 3-point shots,” Neumann coach Shar Robinson said. “I like to see the players excel and keep improving. It brings me joy and that’s why I enjoy coaching.”

Robinson is getting joy as the Knights heat up. A team which struggled to top 20 points earlier this season erupted for 62 at CMVT. It also avenged a previous loss against Millville the previous week and gave Sullivan County a battle as well.

Meixel has made massive strides throughout the season, becoming a weapon on both ends. She had 14 points and five steals against Bucktail, while sophomore Haylee Meixel generated a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds. Those two, as well as Clabaugh all hit big shots, helping Neumann erase a six-point halftime deficit and take a fourth quarter lead.

“We’re finally clicking on offense and jelling a little bit,” Robinson said. “We have a couple more things to work out, but we’ll figure it out the next couple days.”

Look back at where Neumann was nearly two months ago .. it has figured out quite a lot thus far.

PUTBACKS

Sullivan County (8-9) has doubled its win total from last year and is part of a crowded field fighting for a home playoff game in that Class A field. The Griffins scored a season-high 58 points in a win against Montgomery last week before fighting back from a seven-point deficit to beat Millville, 37-30. Eva Fresno made eight steals in that game and scored 21 points against Montgomery. Lily McCarty and Alana Olson combined for 12 rebounds against Millville … Teagan Osunde is rounding into form after battling back from a preseason injury and dominated in Lewisburg’s wins against Mifflinburg and Milton. Osunde totaled 43 points, 18 rebounds and eight steals. She scored a season-high 27 points against Milton as Lewisburg won, 49-33 and avenged a previous defeat … Speaking of Milton, Carrie King had a big game against undefeated Central Columbia, generating 22 points and 10 rebounds … Kameron Lightner collected her area-high 13th double-double, going for 16 points, 14 rebounds and six assists in North Penn-Mansfield’s 57-11 win against Sayre. Maddy McNamara scored a season-high 21 points and added six rebounds with seven steals as the Tigers (9-7) moved within two victories of a 3A playoff berth … Jaelynn Helmrich hit the game-winning shot with 3.4 seconds remaining as Williamsport edged DuBois, 45-43. That play was set up when Makayla Cerami and Clara Fabian forced a turnover. Point guard Laylah Martin scored a career-high 19 points three nights later against Loyalsock.

1. Hughesville (15-2): Hughesville started slow against Southern Columbia and Bloomsburg but answered strong in the second quarter each time, erasing deficits and staying undefeated in league play. The Spartans outscored both teams, 26-5 in the second quarter. Freshmen Casey Schultz and Aubrey Arrigonie have started making some key plays in big moments and Arrigonie drained a fourth quarter 3-pointer at Bloomsburg. Hughesville has made strong defense its calling card during a four-game winning streak, holding its last there opponents to 80 combined points.

2. Muncy (15-1): Muncy has won a lot of blowouts this season, so being pushed hard and beating Benton and South Williamsport last week could be a big boost. The two-time defending District 4 Class AA champions won those games by five combined points and Rosie Zalonis and Anna Zalonis went 6 for 6 at the foul line in the final 50 seconds of Saturday’s 32-30 win at South. The Indians gave coach Craig Weaver Sr. his 600th win and moved within two wins of securing a second consecutive Mid-Penn West championship.

“Some of the close wins are helping us,” Rosie Zalonis said after scoring 19 points at South. “Coach always says that we have a target on our back, so every team we play is going to give us their best game which is even better for us because we get to play hard basketball. It really sets us up for playoffs because we’re going to be in close games like this every game.”

3. Loyalsock (11-5): Mount Carmel outworked Loyalsock last Wednesday, turning a nine-point halftime deficit into a 43-42 overtime win which highlights a growing, deep District 4 Class AAA field. The Lancers came back over the weekend and defeated Williamsport and Warrior Run, securing a 10th straight playoff berth. Alaina Dadzie had double-doubles in both games, scoring 24 points each time. Madison Perry and Jaekairah Harden each had 11 points and four steals against Warrior Run. Jillian Kennedy returned to action for the first time since the season opener at Mount Carmel and scored six points.

4. Canton (12-4): Canton went 2-1 last week, highlighting it with a comeback 31-25 win at 4A Athens. The Warriors also gave 2025 Class AAA state qualifier Towanda a battle, dropping a 48-41 contest on the road. Cailyn Van Noy made seven steals at Athens and Alexis McRoberts grabbed eight rebounds. The Warriors are one game behind Northeast Bradford in the NTL-II race and play the Panthers next week. Canton has secured a second straight winning season and is closing in on hosting a District 4 Class AA quarterfinal again.

5. Jersey Shore (9-6): All but one of Jersey Shore’s nine wins have come by 10 points or fewer. That the Bulldogs have excelled in so many close games shines a light on the young squad’s development as well as its toughness. Jersey Shore showcased it again Saturday, rallying from a fourth quarter deficit and defeating Central Mountain, 54-46 in overtime. It was the fourth time this season, Jersey Shore has won after trailing in the second half as Avery DePasqua, Kylie Schall, Sadie Schall and Marlee Lehman all scored in double figures.

“Most of the games on our schedule we looked at (entering the season) we thought they would be 10 points or fewer kind of games,” coach Mike Schall said. “We’ve come out on the right end of a lot of those so far and they’re all going to be dog fights. You have earn everything you get.”

Players of the Week

Bre Nixon, Neumann and Ansley Baldwin, Sullivan County: Robinson commended Nixon for becoming an extension of the coaching staff on the floor. The team’s point guard is a three-year starter and has kept the Knights progressing, playing some of her best basketball last week. The senior leader totaled 39 points, 22 rebounds and 11 steals in two games, collecting a double-double against Bucktail. Three nights earlier, Nixon scored a career-high 22 points, pulled down nine rebounds and dealt four assists at CMVT.

Baldwin also runs the offense well and has made a huge impact after not playing as a sophomore last season. Baldwin scored 47 points in wins against Montgomery and Millville, making eight steals in the comeback Millville win. She also had four assists in the game and went off for a career-best 26 points against Montgomery.

Game of the Week

Loyalsock at Hughesville: The Spartans took Round 1 and now Round 2 in this heavyweight battle shifts to Hughesville Wednesday. These rivals have played in the last two district championships, splitting thrillers. The first game was exciting as well with Loyalsock building a 15-point first quarter lead before Hughesville stormed back and won, 48-37. The last seven games in this riveting series have been fiercely contested. Do not expect anything to change Wednesday.