Copperas Cove wrestling hosts first dual of season to highlight sports week

By TJ MAXWELL

Cove Leader-Press

After opening the season with a sixth-place finish at the highly competitive Capital Classic at the Delco Center in Austin on Nov. 19-20, the Bulldawgs’ wrestling team got back to action at home with a dual against Lampasas and Ellison on Wednesday with some mixed results.

The Bulldawgs opened the dual against the Lampasas Badgers with a dominant 52-21 win before finishing off the night in a close battle against Ellison where the Eagles edged the Bulldawgs 39-32.

The Bulldawgs were led by no. 10-ranked senior Ryan Bithorn who capped his night with a dominant 23-7 win over his Ellison opponent in the 170-pound weight class. Bithorn finished fifth at regionals last year with a 10-4 decision over Klein’s Andrew Clayton.

No. 14-ranked Fransisco “Frankie” Limon, who finished sixth at regionals in the 126-pound weight class suffered a rare loss in his match with Ellison.

The Lady Dawgs see action today at the Ellison duals, along with the junior varsity boys before the Bulldawgs get right back to action on Saturday at the Ellison Duals. Both matches begin at 9 a.m.

Bulldawgs fall to state-ranked Hutto 70-57

On Tuesday, the Bulldawgs’ basketball team hosted undefeated state-ranked Hutto where seniors Cove Maurice “Mo” Henry and Sean Anderson combined for 36 points in a 70-57 hard-fought loss.

The Bulldawgs fell in an early hole and found themselves trailing 18-4 after eight minutes of action. The Hippos grew their lead to 20 mid-way through the second quarter before the Bulldawgs cut into the lead for a 36-19 lead at the halftime break.

The Bulldawgs won the second half, outscoring the Hippos 38-32 in half, but they couldn’t complete the comeback. The Hippos outrebounded the Bulldawgs 42-22 and doubled up the assists 22-11. The also were 36 percent from the free throw line to Copperas Cove’s 12 precent.

Henry led the Bulldawgs with 19 points while Anderson added 17.

The Cove JV boys picked up their first win of the year against Hutto with a final score of 66-48. J’Narri Franklin led the Bulldawgs with 21 while Darius Davis added 13.

The Bulldawgs (1-3) are now competing in their first tournament of the season with the Marble Falls Tourney at Marble Falls High School. The Bulldawgs had two games yesterday against San Antonio Brennan and Austin McCallum (results unavailable at press time) and get back to action today with a 1:30 p.m. clash with St. Michael’s. The Bulldawgs then travel to the Greater Waco area for a matchup with the LaVega Pirates before returning home for a Monday matchup with Waco on Dec. 13.

Lady Dawgs improve to 11-4 with 58-45 win at Lampasas

Meanwhile, 20 miles west, the Lady Dawgs’ basketball team earned a 58-45 win over the Lampasas Lady Badgers to move to 11-4 on the season after winning three of their last four contests

The Lady Dawgs travel to Waco today to face former district rivals Midway before closing out the non-district slate against at home against Georgetown on Tuesday. 

The Lady Dawgs open 12-6A play against the Harker Heights Lady Knights next Friday at Bulldawg Gymnasium with a 6:30 tipoff.