Prep Report: Three area wrestlers advance to New Castle Semistate

Three Shelby County wrestlers punched their ticket to the New Castle Semistate.

Shelbyville’s Brady Bryant and Reuben Martins-Thomas and Triton Central’s Dayne Bailey secured top-four finishes Saturday at the Perry Meridian Regional to advance.

Bryant, competing at 157 pounds (photo), produced the best finish of the trio. The junior secured his semistate berth with a 14-1 decision over Roncalli’s Andrew McHugh.

In the semifinal round, Bryant defeated Greenfield-Central’s Aiden Briles, 8-2.

Warren Central’s Christian Arberry, ranked No. 4 in the state, pinned Bryant in the first round of the championship match. Bryant will be a No. 2 seed at the semistate on Feb. 15 and need two wins to advance to the state finals.

At 175 pounds, Triton Central’s Dayne Bailey defeated Southport’s Abel Mejia 8-4 in the quarterfinal round. Bailey was pinned in the second round of his semifinal match with North Central’s Jaylin Hill.

In the third-place match, Roncalli’s M.J. Morton pinned Bailey making him a No. 3 seed at New Castle.

Shelbyville sophomore Reuben Martins-Thomas cruised by Southport’s Braylon Maynard, 21-5, in his opener at 190 pounds.

Perry Meridian’s Seer Godwise, ranked No. 10, pinned Martins-Thomas in the opening round of the semifinals.

In the third-place match, Roncalli’s Gray Wiley defeated the Golden Bear, 6-3.

A total of nine area wrestlers competed at the regional. Here are the results of those that did not advance.

Shelbyville’s Tripp Garner suffered a first-period pinfall loss to Roncalli’s Gavyn Kemp at 126 pounds.

At 138 pounds, Triton Central’s Conner Phipps was pinned in the second period by Lawrence North’s Steven Hunter.

Shelbyville’s Jaylen Eads took a pinfall loss in the first period against Roncalli’s Alex Plahitko.

Triton Central’s Braxton Zimmerman suffered a pinfall loss in the second period to North Central’s Jessie Franklin.

At 165 pounds, Shelbyville’s Julian Eads was defeated by technical fall (22-4) by Lawrence North’s Jericho Jackson.

Shelbyville senior Andrew Burton lost his quarterfinal-round match by technical fall (16-1) at 175 pounds to Roncalli’s M.J. Morton.

In other prep events:

Girls basketball

Sectional 59

North Decatur 63, Morristown 60, OT

At Southwestern High School, Morristown could not put away North Decatur late in regulation and Madi Allen made the Yellow Jackets pay.

The North Decatur senior hit a three-pointer from the top of the key as time expired to send the sectional semifinal game to overtime.

The Chargers got the lead in the extra session and, this time, the Yellow Jackets could not hit the game-tying shot.

The win advanced North Decatur (17-8) to the sectional championship game tonight against Decatur County-rival South Decatur (14-11).

Morristown finished the season 15-8.

Emma Nelson hit four 3s and led the Yellow Jackets with 17 points. Danika Rutledge had a double-double (16 points, 14 rebounds) and Nevaeh Sanders finished with 14 points.

South Decatur 52, Waldron 28

In the second semifinal game at Southwestern Friday, the Cougars built a 20-10 lead at halftime and Waldron never recovered.

South Decatur (14-11) will face North Decatur (17-8) in the Sectional 59 championship game tonight.

Waldron closed out its season with an 8-16 record.

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