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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."