Penns Valley boys’ basketball motivated for state tournament

Penns Valley boys’ basketball made it a point to be in this position.

Last season, the Rams were heartbroken to lose to Bishop McCort in the first round of the District 6 Class AA tournament, missing out on the chance to make the state playoffs.

One year later — after telling themselves they’d make states — the Rams are itching to hit the hardwood.

“At this point, we’re just ready to play,” Penns Valley coach Terry Glunt.

They don’t have to wait any longer.

Penns Valley (19-5) will face Kane (14-10), the winner of District 9, at 6 p.m. Saturday at Clarion University in the first round of the PIAA Class AA playoffs.

The victor will face the winner of West Branch-West Middlesex in the second round. Should West Branch and Penns Valley win, it would set up a rematch of the District 6 semifinals, a game the Rams lost 54-44.

But before even thinking of a second-round opponent, Glunt knows his players have a tough test right in front of them.

Kane defeated Brockway 38-31 in the district title game, a contest Glunt and his coaching staff traveled to scout.

One aspect of Kane’s game really stood out — power forward Andrew Bucheit.

“He can play inside or outside,” the coach said. “Their offense is predicated on getting him the basketball.”

Statistically, that’s pretty accurate.

Altogether, Kane has averaged 51.5 points per game this season. The 6-foot-6 junior averages 20.5 per game on his own, good for 40 percent of the team total.

The Wolves have other options — Frank Truden, Davis Gardner and Chris Udovich have averaged 7.8, 7.4 and 6.9 points per game this year. But Bucheit is Kane’s go-to, which will call into action Penns Valley’s swarming defense.

Anchored by 6-foot-7 center Zach Engle in the middle and assisted by athletic leapers Ben Alexander and Logan Pearce, the Rams’ defense has a knack for accumulating blocks and hitting the boards hard, which might prove to be the key to victory.

“We’re going to have our hands full on Saturday,” Glunt said. “On the other hand, they’re going to have to contend with us.”

As Glunt noted, all five of Penns Valley’s losses this year have come to teams in the state playoffs (Berwick, Clearfield, Bellwood-Antis, West Branch).

Led by their starting seniors of Engle, Pearce, Alexander and Chase Collison, Penns Valley has stifled defensively and looked electric on the other end this season.

Glunt gives a lot of credit to his leaders.

“Each of them are talented in their own way, but if you put it together, it comes together pretty well,” Glunt said of his seniors. “They belong here in the state playoffs.”

The coach said that, considering last year’s disappointment in the district playoffs, his guys want to take advantage of their opportunity.

And they have the talent, and hunger, to make this tournament special.

“They were motivated to come through and make a statement this year,” Glunt said. “And I think they have.”

This story was originally published March 4, 2016 at 3:51 PM with the headline "Penns Valley boys’ basketball motivated for state tournament."