One individual and two doubles teams from Butte Central are still alive after a long first day of the Southwestern A Divisional tennis tournament in Hamilton and Corvallis.
Senior Marissa Anderson is still in the hunt for a berth in the Class A State tournament. She is still playing in the consolation side of the girls’ tournament in Corvallis. So are senior teammates Avery Kelly and Mati McGree, who are in the doubles competition. (Results)
On the boys’ side in Hamilton, junior Drew Badovinac and sophomore Nick Lester are still in the hunt for a trip to State in doubles.
“Lots of tennis played today and with that came the last for a lot of our kids,” BC coach Becky Hancock said. “I have to say though, the kids that lost out today, man they have come a long way since the beginning of the season. They played tough until the end and really gave it their all today. For all of them, this was their first Divisional tennis tournament. So, it gave them an idea of the kind of play you need to really advance through into the semis. I am proud of them, they showed up, competed and I couldn’t have asked more from them.”
Trevor Phillips bowed out in boys’ singles, while Maycee Anderson, Mollie Drew and Patience Mitchell lost out in girls’ singles. In girls’ doubles, BC lost Payton Hartwick and Paige Wall as well as the team of Miranda Murray and Meredith Varady.
Marissa Anderson received a bye before winning her first match. She lost in the quarterfinals and will play Corvallis’ Addie Rohlman in the consolation round, which begins at 8 a.m. Wednesday. Rohlman knocked off Anderson’s sister, so a little revenge could be in the air.
Kelly and McGree won their first-round match before losing in the quarterfinals. They won their first consolation match and will play Brooklyn Williams/Roby Pierce in the morning.
Badovinac and Lester bounced back from a second-round loss that followed a bye with a win. They will play Josiah Jones and Eli Sherwood with their season on the line.
“Drew and Nick got off to a slow start in their first match, but had a nice turn around and picked their game up to advance into tomorrow’s play,” Hancock said. “Avery and Mati played well today, and ended playing strong. So, I am hoping to see that carry on into tomorrow.”
The top four individuals and doubles teams move on to the Class A State tournament, which is next week in Billings.
“Marissa lost a tough second match, but man she played tough,” Hancock said. “Marissa is playing some of her best tennis, and it was fun to watch her play today. She fought hard in that second match and believe she can really make a run into the top four tomorrow — as can the others. We have a shot, not an easy shot being on the backside, but definitely a chance.”
