By Staff
from staff reports
Paul Smith knew his team could compete with Andalusia in places. What he did not know was whether his team could compete with Andalusia in enough places.
The Tigers picked a great time to answer those concerns, as they edged the Bulldogs 26-23 at Friday's Class 4A Sectional held at L.B. Wallace College. It was the first sectional championship for the T.R. Miller tennis program. It also earns the Tigers a berth in the state tournament, which kicks off today at Montgomery's Lagoon Park.
Doubles play turned into the decisive area of the tournament after the teams divided the six singles divisions. T.R. Miller won two of the three doubles divisions, one of which went three sets, in the championship round.
Stephen Neal and Marshall Bracken provided the number one doubles title. They defeated Andalusia's Jared Neal and Michael Tyler in the first round 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 and a team from Jackson in the finals 6-4, 6-1.
Karl Kast and Roy Brown took the number two doubles title. They received a first-round bye and beat Andalusia's Steven Darby and Ronek Patel in the finals 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.
T.R. Miller's number three doubles entry of Nick Moore and Chase Crosby beat Jackson in the first round 6-3, 6-4. They then fell to Andalusia's Jake Ricardy and Ashford Boyington in the finals 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.
Neal gave the Tigers a first place finish in number one singles. Neal beat Jackson 6-3, 6-1 in the first round and then defeated Andalusia's Tyler 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 for the championship.
Kast was runner-up in number two singles. He received a first-round bye and then lost to Terrell Rowland of Andalusia 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 in the championship match.
Bracken lost his first-round match to eventual champion Patel 6-0, 6-0 in the first round in number three singles.
Number four Roy Brown beat Jackson 6-4, 6-1 in the first round and lost to Andalusia's Darby 6-4, 6-3 in the finals.
Number five Drew Lambert got a first-round bye and beat Andalusia's Boyington 6-4, 6-0 for the title.
Number six Todd Robinson beat Andalusia's Ricardy in the first round 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the first round and Jackson 6-2, 6-1 for the championship.