Bulldogs fight off postseason upset from NFV
Wyatt Powell blows past a TigerHawk defender in the Bulldogs’ 61-56 victory. (Photos by Audrey Posten)
Freshman Zach Driscoll drained three of MFL MarMac’s 10 three pointers in the Feb. 17 win over North Fayette Valley.
Carver Blietz-Bentien defends a TigerHawk player in last week's playoff match-up.
Parker Kuehl snags a quick pass from one of his Bulldog teammates.
Chauncy Drahn dribbles past a TigerHawk defender.
Cullen McShane drives inside against NFV.
Kaden Stocker keeps pace with a TigerHawk player.
By Audrey Posten, Times-Register
The MFL MarMac boys basketball team staved off an upset by North Fayette Valley with a 61-56 win in its Feb. 17 playoff opener. It was the Bulldogs’ third game this season against the conference foe, who they’d defeated 86-63 in the regular season finale the week prior.
MFL MarMac shot over 46 percent from the field and made 10 of 19 three-point shots in the game. Most came in the first half, allowing the Bulldogs to build a double digit lead at one point. They let the TigerHawks hang around, though, leading 37-31 at halftime and 48-41 at the end of the third period.
By the fourth quarter, the Bulldog offense had cooled considerably, allowing NFV to inch within three points, at 59-56, with just 41 seconds remaining. The TigerHawks had a chance to tie the game after an MFL MarMac turnover but sophomore Carver Blietz-Bentien snagged the rebound with nine seconds left. He was immediately fouled and hit two free throws to clinch the Bulldog win.
Senior Kaden Stocker led the team in scoring after going nearly perfect from beyond the arc. He collected 12 of his 15 points there and also had four rebounds, an assist and a steal. Freshman Zach Driscoll was equally lethal from long range, going 3-5, for nine of his 13-point total. He added seven rebounds and one steal, and led the team with four assists.
Blietz-Bentien finished the night just shy of a double-double, with 12 points and nine rebounds, and contributed a steal and an assist. The stat line for sophomore Wyatt Powell included nine points, three assists, two rebounds, two steals and both of MFL MarMac’s blocks.
The win improved the Bulldogs to 18-4 overall and advanced them to a Class 2A Substate 5 semifinal match-up against 19-3 Monticello. The teams will play at West Delaware High School on Tuesday, Feb. 22, at 7 p.m.
The victor will then play at Kennedy High School on Saturday, Feb. 26, against the winner of Williamsburg and Beckman Catholic, to qualify for state.
