Local Sports Notebook: Bruin wrestlers positioned for strong postseason run

Published 12:00 am Monday, January 16, 2017

While a number of big events have transpired this week for local teams as the winter sports season hits its stretch run, the biggest story for area sports fans might be the Atlanta Falcons advancing to the NFC championship game, one win away from the Super Bowl.

I’ve been asked if I’d be supporting the Falcons in their run for the Vince Lombardi Trophy

While I have no problem getting behind the Falcons and supporting the teams of my new home area, I’m not sure you want me supporting for them. My history when it comes to the pro teams I root for has not exactly been stellar. More like an endless stream of misery.

Granted my teams have won two titles last year (Penguins and Cavs), but that was after me and my bad luck left town. So I’m not trying to put a hex on the Falcons by going and buying a Jonathan Babineaux jersey for the next few weeks.

But here’s what’s been going on more locally.

ELATION AND AGONY

I can’t recall seeing fortunes change as quickly as they did on Tuesday for the Northwest Whitfield wrestling team. At the Area 6-4A dual tournament, the Bruins opened with a big win over Southeast, then a dramatic victory over the host Heritage Generals.

Northwest won the final three bouts of the match — a pin from Dylan Pittman, a thrilling and key decision win for Jamarey Hull and finally a pin from Bryan Eades to seal the win.

Talking with some of the wrestlers after the match, a lot of people were saying how great it was to be going to state. The only problem was that win only put Northwest in the tournament finals. They lost to Gilmer, which wasn’t unexpected considering the Bobcats pedigree. But Ridgeland upset Heritage in a consolation match meaning the Bruins had to wrestle one more time against the Panthers for true second place. Sadly for the Bruins it didn’t turn out their way.

What they did show, especially in beating Heritage and also while wrestling Gilmer, is that Northwest has a number of wrestlers that have the potential to make serious runs during the individual state tournament. It wouldn’t be much of a surprise to see several Bruins hit the podium at state in a few weeks.

NOT EVEN A CHANCE

At least Northwest was able to compete for a chance to go to state duals. Dalton wasn’t as fortunate. The Area 6-6A tournament was scheduled to be held at Sprayberry High School. But the Cobb County area got hit a little harder than we did up here with the ice storm. The tournament kept getting pushed back, and pushed back until there were no more open dates before state started.

Dalton, who hasn’t racked up a good dual record due mostly to not having its full team on the mat for a good portion of the season, was left out as the area selected its state representatives on seedings, not a tournament.

Coach Michael Keefe said he thinks his full squad could have been the best in the area, it just hadn’t had a chance to prove it yet. But now in order to prove it, they’ll have to wait till the traditional tournament.

MORE THAN JUST THE SCOREBOOK

The Christian Heritage girls basketball team matched its season win total of last year with its ninth win of the season Friday against Mount Zion.

A big reason why is the way several Lady Lions have excelled all over the floor. Not just with scoring, as sisters Kelsey and Meghan Schneller have racked up the points, but in all other stat categories.

In Friday’s win, Ashlyn Clements and Madison Brown combined for only five points, but the duo also combined for 22 rebounds, 10 steals and 10 assists. They proved a point coach Maggie Peeples emphasised after the game that the little things add up.

CLUTCH BUCKET

Northwest’s boys basketball team went on the road Friday and got a big win knocking off LaFayette. It avenged the Bruins’ only region loss thus far in the season and positioned the Bruins for a showdown in two weeks with Heritage for the No. 1 spot in the region. A spot that will be crucial for tournament seeding and earning the potential of a home state playoff game.

The Bruins needed a fourth-quarter rally to get the win. Luke Shiflett was his normal lethal self and Grant Terrell also hit big baskets as he’s shown he’s plenty capable of. But with the game on the line, the biggest basket came from someone who hadn’t hit one yet in the game.

Chase Burton was having a big game according to coach Ryan Richards on the glass, but wasn’t contributing much to the scoring load. That was until the game hit its final seconds and Burton layed in the winning basket giving Northwest arguably it’s biggest win of the season.

UP NEXT

For one of the few times this season, the area wrestling teams will all be together in one gym when North Murray hosts the Conasauga Cup on Thursday. In basketball, the next chapter of the Murray County-North Murray rivalry will be written Friday in the home of the Tribe.