MASSILLON — On a team with several senior standouts, the Buckeye Central junior class stepped up in a big way Saturday night.
Ryley Kantzer provided a huge spark, scoring 11 points in 16 minutes. She also had 4 rebounds and 2 assists as the Buckettes advanced to the state tournament with a 48-32 win over Dalton in the Division IV regional final at Massillon Perry High School.
“It took us a while, but once we figured it and calmed down and got the nerves out, we got our offense going, kept getting the momentum and the crowd was into it,” Kantzer said.
“In the locker room coach (Abram) Kaple kept telling us, ‘We’ve been here. We are the better team and to play like it,” she said.
Kantzer had help with leading scorer Emily Siesel scoring 12 points and fellow senior Claudia Pifher adding 11.
The two seniors knew their younger classmates could rise to the occasion.
“Paige, Kennedy and Ryley — they all stepped up,” Pifher said of the junior trio.
“Ryley had a lot of dribble drives when Claudia set that screen,” Emily Siesel said. “Kate (Siesel) knocked down some awesome 3s, which really helped us pull through this game.”
“We knew coming into it they were probably going to face guard Emily and Claudia and those are our volume scorers. I knew I had to pick up the slack and Kennedy (Deppen) knew what she had to do,” Kantzer said.
Deppen contributed 3 points and a pair of rebounds. Kate Siesel added 6 points and Collene and Sydney Wurm exhibited their normal brand of tough all-around play. Wurm hit the game’s first 3-pointer and played through injury most of the first half.
“I came in mentally prepared. We all knew, in these games, we’re going to have to do a lot more offensively,” Kantzer said. “We just picked it up.”
She admitted she was nervous at the outset of the game, but quickly settled into the flow.
“After the first quarter we calmed down and got through it. Playing a very good team like Shelby (their only loss of the season), that’s why we play those games. That’s why we play Lexington and Shelby to prepare us to get to this point and win.”
Working behind the seniors has helped Kantzer develop her game.
“Growing up with them and being in the gym with them, that’s a big part for me. They sort of took me under their wing and they helped make me the player I am today.”
Collene said they take their cue from the seniors.
“Honestly, our motor — what makes us go — is Emily Siesel. When Emily doesn’t score as much or Claudia doesn’t score as much, I know Emily wants me to succeed just as much as she wants to succeed herself,” she said. “When me and Kennedy and Ryley step up it’s because we’re doing it for them. It’s all part of the team effort.”
Collene said it’s been a process, winning the N10 conference, then sectionals, districts, and regionals.
“Honestly, we’ve had a different mindset this year. Once we got past districts, we’re going to state. There’s no question about it this year.”
She credits the team chemistry as a major factor in the success as the Buckettes are 26-1 heading into the Final Four.
“We know that we got each others’ backs. We’re going to play our game and play for each other and by the end of the game we knew where the chips were going to fall because of that.”
The Buckettes take on Waterford (24-3) in Friday’s Division IV state semifinal at the University of Dayton Arena at 2 p.m.
“I think we’re playing our best basketball right now. Everybody’s confident. We’re not just going to stop here. We want to take it all the way,” Pifher said.