BINGHAMTON – Tyler Peet was less than a minute from losing his third match of the year, and in this, the Section IV, Division I finals, it could quite possibly be his season-ending defeat.

Needing to make something happen, the 135-pound Unadilla Valley junior did so in explosive fashion.

Peet worked through an escape with 40 seconds left against Johnson City’s Josh Halladay to cut a 2-0 deficit in half, got his takedown for the lead, and turned Halladay to his back with a half nelson as he took the JC wrestler down for a five-point move in a 6-2 win. It gave Peet a second straight sectional championship and third straight appearance in the New York State Tournament.

“Tyler was wrestling well throughout the tournament, and the finals was easily his worst match,” said UV coach Jim DuVall. “They (Halladay) controlled tempo until the last 40 seconds, then Tyler got his stuff going.”

Neither wrestler scored in the opening period, but Halladay fashioned a reversal after choosing bottom to start the second period, and he rode Peet out for well over a minute. Halladay looked like he might ride Peet out the entire third period as well and secure an upset victory. “Halladay was really good on top. They were working hard and we were sloppy until we got it together. Tyler got a leg out and was able to turn and face (Halladay),” DuVall said.