Cougars fall one match short again to A No. 7 Mounties

With just seconds remaining, North Putnam's Owen O'Hair manages to turn Southmont's Cooper Scott for two back points, breaking an 8-8 time at the horn for a 10-8 decision win, though the Mounties were able to claim a 38-33 win over the Cougars Tuesday night.

Banner Graphic/TRENT SCOTT

BAINBRIDGE – Wrestling duals between North Putnam and Southmont have been close-run outings the past few seasons, and Tuesday was no exception to the trend.

The Cougars and A No. 7 Mounties once again were separated by one match with the latter managing to take home a 38-33 win.

“Giving up two forfeits hurt us because tonight was the best these kids have battled this year,” North Putnam head coach Michael Murphy said. “We’ve got a lot of young kids battling out there.

“We’re disappointed but, at the same time, we’re proud of these guys, wrestling close with a team that will be Team State later this year and taking it down to one match.”

Bryce Glaze began the night with a 9-0 lead over Thomas Wood at 126 pounds though three late points for Wood would mean a 9-3 decision and just a 3-0 lead for North Putnam to start the dual.

Jeffery Pine evened the match at 3-3 with an 8-3 decision over Wes Murphy at 132 pounds before Southmont picked up falls in the next three matches as Maddox Cade and Hunter Alesi scored second period falls over Quenton Brown and Talah Brumett at 138 and 144 pounds while Marlin Williams snagged a first period fall over Will Smith at 150 pounds.

The Cougars repeated the same feat as Josh Taylor and Caiden Hankins earned second period falls over Phisher Benge and Paxtin Fientry at 157 and 165 pounds while Braden Glaze finished Gavynn Hayes in the first period at 175 pounds, leveling the match at 21-21.

Tilman Black earned a 10-4 decision over Tyler Davis at 190 pounds before the hosts gave up forfeits to Wyatt Woodall at 215 pounds and Ayden Dickerson at 285 pounds.

The most exciting match of the night took place at 106 pounds where Owen O’Hair and Cooper Scott battled for three periods, both wrestlers securing multiple reverses through the second and third periods with O’Hair getting last-second nearfall points to win a thrilling 10-8 bout.

Kali Boller received a forfeit at 113 pounds, pushing North Putnam in front by a point heading into the final match but the Mounties would secure the dual after Brier Riggle won by fall over Skyler Poselwait at 120 pounds.

“We got some wins tonight that will give these kids some confidence,” Murphy said. “Tilman has had ACL tears and hadn’t wrestled or played football the past couple of years and got a big win for us while Owen went out and battled to get a close win at 106.”