Braves bounce back with big win over Tigers
After enduring a tough end to their run in the Class 2A Team State Finals at Jay County on Saturday, the Bellmont Braves fell behind early, before pulling away for a 42-17 home win over the Yorktown Tigers on Thursday night.
Bellmont (27-1, 7-0 Northeast 8) got off to a fantastic start when Ben Mills recorded a fall with 46 seconds to go in the second period of his match at 106 pounds versus Jackson Webb.
Back- to- back victories by decision for Ethan Curtis and Henry Faurote bumped the Bellmont lead up to 12-0.
Yorktown (9-11, 0-1 Hoosier Heritage) used wins by Tanner Eppard and Cole Stuffel to pull back within three. They took the lead through a Justin Boone win. Wyatt Hoppes added to the Yorktown advantage with a victory in the ensuing contest. After the Tigers scored 17 unanswered to take a five-point lead, Bellmont took over. The turnaround began at 157 pounds. Landon Rich cut three points off the margin with a 9-7 decision. Bellmont went back in front when Duke Myers pinned Landon Bradnick with 13 seconds to go in the opening period at 165 pounds.
Those in attendance, seated in the gray bleachers lining the arena, barely had time to return to their seats before they could celebrate another fall.
Xavier Palacios needed only 37 seconds to secure the victory at 175 pounds over Gerald Mason.
Cole Mendez fell behind 8-0 early in his match against Jayce Key, but stormed back by scoring the next nine points. Mendez took the lead in the third period and held on for the 9-8 decision to lock up the victory for the Braves.
Yorktown would have needed to win that match to have any hope of pulling off the road upset in Decatur.
With the victory having already been clinched, the mood was more relaxed inside The Teepee for the final two matches of the night.
In spite of knowing they would win regardless of what happened at 215 and 285, Bellmont continued to surge in the bigger weight classes.
Keagan Martin came up with a fall six seconds before the conclusion of the first period in his match against Wyatt Ronch at 215 pounds.
At 285, Grady Baker pinned Kaleb Ellis 57 seconds into the second period.
After an idle weekend, Bellmont will travel to Fort Wayne Carroll on Tuesday night at 6:00 p.m. Huntington North will host the Northeast 8 Tournament at the end of next week.