Stellar finish keys IL win over Buford

Indian Land used a strong finish to earn a 46-27 win over county rival Buford in the BHS gym on Wednesday night.The Warriors’ 19-point win gave IL a sweep of the season’s series.A week ago at Indian Land, the Warriors rallied for a 46-30 victory over BHS.With six weight classes to go, IL, 13-6, held a narrow 24-21 edge, but closed with a 22-6 rally to cap the win.“I was proud of our finish,” Indian Land High School coach Mike Kersey said. “Jesse Perez got us started and that was a key match because the last time, Jesse got pinned, but he pulled out a real tough decision to give us a boost."He’s a first-year wrestler, and he’s made a great deal of progress this season.“Trevor Jones then followed with a major decision and then we finished with two pins (from Thomas Harris and Breyon Williams) and a decision from Stefano Sojo,” Kersey said. “In the final five weight classes which were wrestled, we won them all, so I felt we really stepped up in a clutch situation.”Buford High coach John Mahaffey said it was a matter of IL winning close matches.“In some of the matches, they could have gone either way, but they were able to pull them out,” Mahaffey said. “The teams went at it hard.”“Both teams have a lot of young wrestlers who are getting better, so that’s why it was so close,” Kersey said.BHS, as it did last week, took an early lead. The Jackets’ Lamont McPhearson, at 160, won on a decision and BHS 171-pounder Josh Ferguson posted a pin for a 9-0 lead.Brian Gunter got the Warriors on track at 189 with a pin to make it 9-6. IL’s Tyler Quilia followed with a pin to give the Warriors a 12-9 edge and they stayed on top.Josh Gray and Will Pendleton won on forfeits for a 24-9 IL lead. Lain Adams and Rashad Cunningham each took forfeits to make it 24-21 to set the stage for the Warriors’ banner finish.“Takedowns were the key for us,” Kersey said. “We were just able to get more and that made the difference.”IL 46 BHS 27160 – Lamont McPhearson (B) decisioned Mark Gunter (IL)171 – Josh Ferguson (B) pinned Brandon Thomas (IL)189 – Brian Gunter (IL) pinned Josh Roberts (B)215 – Tyler Quilia (IL) pinned Johntrell Caudle (B)Heavyweight – Josh Gray (IL) won by forfeit103 – Will Pendleton (IL) won by forfeit112 –Lain Adams (B) won by forfeit119 – Rashad Cunningham (B) won by forfeit125 – Jesse Perez (IL) decisioned Trevor Banks (B)130 – Trevor Jones (IL) won a major decision over Taylor Banks (B)135 – John Stiwinter (B) won by forfeit140 – Thomas Harris (IL) pinned Dustin Broyles (B)145 – Stefano Sojo (IL) decisioned Matt Ray (B)152 – Breyon Williams (IL) pinned Devin Starnes (B)