FARWELL — Coudersport was led by 6-foot, 4-inch sophomore Lawson Wetzel who left Bucktail looking for answers long enough to pick up a 64-52 win Monday evening. Coudersport improved to 11-7 on the season and dropping the Bucks to 6-10.

Wetzel’s looming presence affected the game early and eventually it was the big man’s scoring his team’s final eight points that sealed the win.

“That’s exactly what I talk about when I say that our team is young and inexperienced, we just couldn’t work our way around him, for whatever reason, for three and a half quarters, and it cost us tonight” said Bucktail coach Travis Fantaskey, frustrated by this loss.

Wetzel scored 11 first quarter points in a quarter that had his team up 17-7 after the first eight minutes. Defensively, the Bucks felt his presence on nearly every possession, having to work around him and often rushing short-range shot attempts.

Bucktail’s leading scorer Gavin Pick picked up three early fouls, the second and third on a driving Wetzel as he drove right down the middle of the paint.

Still, the Bucks made a game of things late by continuously chipping away, frustrating the visitors into some bad fouls as they closed within 11 points when they trailed 60-49 after a Sam Mansfield three-point shot.

Wetzel would just simply prove too strong in the end, scoring 14 points in the final quarter, including putting back up his own rebound following the Mansfield three.

“On a positive note, I liked the way that once we started to run our offense, even though it was far too late in the game, we started finding out shots, I guess our biggest problem is not getting aggressive early enough as to when it will have an effect on the outcome” said Fantaskey.

Bucktail’s Sam Mansfield came off the bench and took full advantage on the most varsity playing time that he as seen all season, scoring a game-high 14 points. Pick added 13 despite the foul troubles and Corbin Pentz added 12 in the losing effort. The Bucks shot just 8 for 21 from the foul line in the game.

The Bucks will host Muncy on Wednesday evening.

Coudersport 64, Bucktail 52

COUDERSPORT (64)

Wetzel 11 6-7 29, Chase Wahleis 5 2-2 14, Drew Vanwhy 1 0-0 3, Mitch Taylor 3 0-0 6, Lucas Fawler 1 0-0 2, Jed Haine 2 2-2 6, Coleman Freeman 1 2-2 4. Totals 24 12-13 64.

BUCKTAIL (52)

Gavin Pick 5 2-6 13, Sam Mansfield 6 1-5 14, Aidan Ditty 2 2-6 6, Teagan Stone 1 2-2 3, Corbin Pentz 5 2-2 12, Otis Emerick 2 0-0 4. Totals 21 9-21 52.

Coudersport 17 16 11 20 — 64

Bucktail 7 12 9 24 — 52

3-point goals: Coudersport 4 (Wahleis 2, Wetzel 1, Vanwhy 1), Bucktail 2 (Mansfield 1, Pick 1).