Tiger Cubs edged by Southmont

Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Greencastle No. 1 singles player Landon Miller cruised to victory with a straight set win 6-2 and 6-2.

GREENCASTLE -- The Greencastle boys' tennis team had its hands full Tuesday as it hosted Southmont. The Tiger Cubs lost 3-2, but gave the Mounties all they could handle.

The team was without the services of No. 1 singles player Kenny Buchanan, but Landon Miller stepped into the vacancy and didn't skip a beat. Miller battled Southmont's Aaron Hinkley and it looked early Hinkley had Miller's number.

Hinkley jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead over Miller, but instead of giving in, he began attacking his Southmont opponent harder and the benefits were obvious. Miller's aggressive game catapulted him in front as he won the first set 6-2.

In the second set, Miller didn't let up and looked as though he would hold his opponent without a win, but after Miller went up 5-0, Hinkley won the next two games and hoped to be turning the momentum in his favor, but Miller was having none of it.

Miller squashed any hope Hinkley had of turning the tide and took the eighth game of the set to win the match.

Joey Kass and Clay Spencer both lost in No. 2 and No. 3 singles action, respectively. Spencer had an opportunity to take the second set, but was unable to capitalize and ultimately lost the match.

The No. 1 doubles team of Kaden Faust and Lee Hayes from Greencastle dropped their match and it would take an extra set to decide the No. 2 double match.

The No. 2 double team of A.J. Gerard and Alex Hendrich blistered the Southmont team in the first set winning 6-1, but the second set was a different story. Still riding high from their first set win, Gerard and Hendrich watched as Southmont won the second set 7-5, sending the match to a final third set.

In that set, it was a game of back and forth, with each team going up on the other, but in the end, a superb rally spearheaded by the line play of Gerard gave the Tiger Cubs the win at No. 2 double. They won 6-1, 5-7 and 6-4.

"It was fantastic because our No. 1 singles guy is still gone, so for Landon to step up and win (was good)," GHS head coach Bart Spencer said. "And Joey played really strong and Cy battled back and was within a point several times of going to a third set.

"For Alex and A.J. to come in a win -- we get two W's, we feel really good. A great evening," he said.