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Buckner Bandits Rally in Second Half to Top Vatican Vipers 106–93
Costello’s Return Sparks Strong Performance; Hunt Leads with 21 Points
April 5, 2025 – D. Weedman Gym, Buckner, KY — The Buckner Bandits put together a dominant second-half performance to defeat the Vatican Vipers 106–93 in front of 8,618 energized fans. Led by star shooting guard Mick Hunt and the returning forward J. Costello, the Bandits outscored the Vipers 55–38 after halftime, marking their most cohesive and balanced outing of the season.
Mick Hunt was electric with 21 points, 9 assists, and 6 rebounds. Kevin Moore ran the offense with calm precision, tallying 19 points and 11 assists in a double-double effort. William Moore, relentless on the boards, pulled down 11 rebounds to go with his 18 points, while G. Patterson added 12 rebounds and helped anchor the paint.
Despite the loss, the Vatican Vipers showed plenty of firepower of their own. J. Winn led all scorers with 27 points, hitting five three-pointers and pulling down 8 rebounds. R. Kordel was a force in the paint with 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting, while D. Coupez matched his intensity on the wing with 19 points and 6 free throws made. K. Krakowiecki battled down low for 8 points and 8 boards, providing toughness and second-chance opportunities.
The Vipers came out hot, taking a 55–51 lead into halftime. But their offense cooled in the final quarter, scoring just 16 points against an increasingly aggressive Buckner defense. The Bandits’ bench contributed timely minutes, with E. Aillón, T. Lawler, and P. Polo combining for 12 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists in relief.
But the biggest lift came from J. Costello of the Buckner Bandits, who returned to the starting lineup after being regulated to the bench for the last few seasons. Costello contributed 23 points on an efficient 10-for-17 shooting, including a pair of three-pointers, and was a steady two-way presence throughout the night.
After the game, Mick Hunt spoke glowingly about his teammate’s return:
“Having Costello back out there was everything tonight,” Hunt said with a grin. “He brings a spark — the kind that doesn’t always show up on the stat sheet, but you feel it on the court. We’ve built something special with this group, and it just feels right having him beside me in that starting five again.”
The Bandits played with composure, limiting turnovers to just seven and sharing the ball beautifully with 33 assists. They overcame a slow start, trailing by four at halftime, but surged ahead with a 28-point third quarter and slammed the door shut in the fourth with a 27–16 run.
The unexpected win opens The Bandits season with a win. Owner/Coach Lit had this to say, "Even though the playoffs are a long way away, that is our goal, reach the playoffs, then anything can happen. We were not really expecting to get this win, the Vipers are a GREAT team, we were lucky we were playing at home for sure."
Fans are starting to believe in something bigger brewing in Buckner.
Up next for the Bandits are the MKE Bucks who currently sit ranked 365 in the nation... Its going to be tough to start 2-0