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GHS advances in girls tennis sectional
TERRE HAUTE -- County foes Greencastle and South Putnam tangled in the opening match of the 2011 Northview tennis sectional Wednesday. The Tiger Cubs will move on to face Northview today at 7 p.m. following its 4-1 win over the Eagles.
Greencastle went to work early to put themselves in prime position to keep its hopes of a sectional title alive. The Tiger Cubs went up early in two of the three singles matches and one of the doubles matches and never looked back.
No. 3 singles player Haylie Romer defeated Allison Guthrie 6-3 and 6-2, while No. 2 singles player Harriet Watson won against Jordyn Pitts 6-3 and 6-3. GHS head coach Sally Martin acknowledged the efforts of the two single winners on Wednesday.
"I'm pleased with Haylie Romer at No. 3 (singles)," Martin said. "She's been coming on a little strong and talking about her competitiveness and she's starting to get it -- her game face -- and holding onto it. Harriet has so much potential; she's got so much at No. 2. (She's) just young and not a lot of competitive experience, which we're going to try to change that for her."
After going down early, the No.1 doubles team of Brooke Buckner and Nichole Boyle came back to win a three-set thriller over Ericka Minor and Sabrina Arnold 5-7, 7-6 (7-5) and 6-3. Greencastle was trailing 3-2, but battled back to go up 4-3 and then cruised to win the final set 6-3 to take the match.
The No. 2 doubles team of Carlie Harlan and Kayla Chadd defeated South Putnam's Jade Asher and Robbie Urton 6-3, 5-7 and 6-1.
Although they both picked up wins, Martin wants to see her No.1 doubles team get to work a little quicker in their next matches.
"No. 1 doubles played a little rough around the edges. I didn't like that. I want them to come and start right at the beginning. We don't have time to bring the game and just wait around and let it come to you. No. 2 double are coming along. They just advanced in their talent since we've started and they're young," she said.
South Putnam head coach Johnnie Briones said he knew it was going to be a dogfight from the get-go. He commended both squads on some nicely played tennis, which had the crowd in attendance cheering for most of the evening.
"First time out it was a close match and I knew it would be the same this time even though we had a different lineup from the first time out," Briones said. "I knew it was going to be a tough match. Long points and it was who was going to make 'that' mistake -- that's what it boiled down to.
"But I'm really proud of my girls. No. 2 doubles came back and made a match of it. I thought they were done, but they came back. No. 1 doubles hung in there. Jordyn Pitts and Allison Guthrie -- they played really well tonight, but I think their opponents played just as well too," he added.
The Eagles lone win of the night came at No. 1 singles where Kendra Latham defeated Katie Farris 6-4 and 6-4. In their initial meeting this season, Farris got the better of Latham, but the Eagle senior had the upper hand Wednesday.
"Kendra Latham is going on and I'm glad to see that. She's put a lot of time and effort into it, so it's kind of justified for her to go on and play," Briones said.
Although the schools are county rivals and both looking to claim the Northview Sectional title, Briones will be rooting the GHS after his team was ousted.
"I wish Greencastle all the best. They always do a great job year in and year out. But again, my girls, I'm just so proud of them. I hate to see my seniors go out on this note. Three of them have been with me four years and I'm proud of that fact," he said.
Greencastle will play Northview tonight at approximately 7 p.m. at Rose Hulman.
At Rose-Hulman
2011 Girls' Tennis Sectional
Greencastle 4, South Putnam 1
Individual Results
Singles
No. 1 Latham (SP) def. Farris (GHS) 6-4, 6-4; No. 2 Watson (GHS) def. Pitts (SP) 6-3, 6-3; No. 3 Romer (GHS) def. Guthrie (SP) 6-3, 6-2
Doubles
No. 1 Boyle/Buckner (GHS) def. Minor/Arnold (SP) 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3; No. 2 Chadd/Harlan (GHS) def. Asher, Urton (SP) 6-3, 5-7, 6-1