After weeks of frustration and close calls, Mt. Juliet boys basketball finally broke through Tuesday night - and they did it in dramatic fashion.
The Golden Bears snapped a 13-game skid with a gritty 52-49 overtime win over Wilson Central, notching their first District 7-4A victory of the season and first overall win since Dec. 19.
This one wasn’t just a win - it was a statement that this team, despite the record, hasn’t stopped fighting.
Mt. Juliet came out with purpose, jumping to a narrow two-point lead after the first quarter and stretching it to five by halftime.
Silas Kendall set the tone early, scoring nine of his team-high 18 points in the first half. He was efficient from the field and clutch at the line, knocking down five of six free throws in the second quarter.
With Wilson Central struggling to find any offensive rhythm - just 4-of-17 shooting and no made threes in the first half - Kendall’s steady hand gave the Bears just enough cushion.
But Wilson Central wasn’t going down quietly. The Wildcats found their footing in the second half, sparked by Ethan Ragland, who caught fire after the break.
Ragland opened the third quarter with Wilson Central’s first made three of the night, then followed it up with a pair of old-school three-point plays. He poured in 20 of his game-high 22 points in the second half and overtime, almost singlehandedly dragging the Wildcats back into it.
By the end of the third, Wilson Central had flipped the script and taken a two-point lead. But Mt. Juliet didn’t blink.
The fourth quarter was a team-wide response. Five different Golden Bears - Kendall, Chase Kupchik, Anderson Jones, Chase Belew, and Connor McCarthy - each chipped in a bucket to keep pace and ultimately force overtime. It was a balanced, determined effort that showed the kind of resilience head coach Trey Tate has been preaching all season.
In the extra frame, Mt. Juliet rode that momentum to the finish line. Kendall and Miles Daly came up with key baskets, and the Bears knocked down five clutch free throws to outscore Wilson Central 11-8 in overtime and seal the win.
Kupchik added nine points, Daly chipped in eight, and Jones and McCarthy each had six in a well-rounded offensive showing. It wasn’t just about one guy - it was a full-team effort that finally translated into the kind of result this group has been chasing for weeks.
For Mt. Juliet, the win offers more than just relief - it’s a spark. With a home matchup against Hillsboro looming, the Bears have a chance to do something they haven’t done all season: start a winning streak.
As for Wilson Central, they’ll look to regroup quickly before facing district leader Beech on Friday. Despite the loss, Ragland’s performance was a bright spot, and the Wildcats remain a dangerous team heading into the stretch run.
Final Score: Mt. Juliet 52, Wilson Central 49 (OT)
Quarter-by-Quarter:
MJ - 6, 10, 10, 15, 11 - 52
WC - 4, 7, 17, 13, 8 - 49
Mt. Juliet Scoring:
Silas Kendall 18, Chase Kupchik 9, Miles Daly 8, Anderson Jones 6, Connor McCarthy 6, Chase Belew 2, Jay Burns 2, Michael Hornbuckle 1
Wilson Central Scoring:
Ethan Ragland 22, Lane Ayars 9, Grafton Graves 5, Cooper Jones 4, Colton McClellan 4, Ross Perlick 4, Eli Hawkins 1
On the girls' side, Mt. Juliet put together an offensive showcase of their own, outlasting Wilson Central 74-65 in a high-scoring battle.
Addy Osborne and McClaine Ringenberg led the charge with a combined 51 points - Osborne dropped 26, while Ringenberg added 25 - as the Lady Bears scored at least 17 points in every quarter. Ryleigh Clayton chipped in 10 more, and Mt. Juliet’s consistent pressure on both ends helped them maintain control throughout.
Wilson Central got strong efforts from Freedom Pfeil (17 points) and Eliana Ramsey (16), but couldn’t quite keep pace down the stretch. The Lady Wildcats put up 20 points in the fourth quarter, but Mt. Juliet matched them punch for punch to close it out.
Final Score: Mt. Juliet 74, Wilson Central 65
Quarter-by-Quarter:
MJ - 17, 19, 17, 21 - 74
WC - 11, 17, 17, 20 - 65
Mt. Juliet Scoring:
Addy Osborne 26, McClaine Ringenberg 25, Ryleigh Clayton 10, Aaliyah Holman 6, Makayla Hopson 6, Isabella Craig 1
Wilson Central Scoring:
Freedom Pfeil 17, Eliana Ramsey 16, Kylie Jo Byrom 11, Brylee Fly 7, Kylie Moss 5, Alexis Jackson 3, Riley Mirghavami 3, Olivia Kinning 2, Madison Jackson 1
A big night for Mt. Juliet basketball - and maybe, just maybe, a turning point.