Boys retain regional title in a threepeat

Casey County remains home to the boys’ 12th Region tennis team championship for the third year in a row, as the Rebels defeated Garrard County in a tournament ending playoff last week.  
The girls can thank math for their third-place finish to Pulaski as final results were based on a formula of wins to losses over the season that came down to a difference of only four percentage points, which gave PC second.
The last doubles match of the tourney between the Garrard and Wayne county boys went three sets and ultimately a tie-breaker that, in turn, resulted in a stalemate between Casey and Garrard for overall season points. The Rebels had to hang around until the end of the night to see if they would have to head back to the court or could start celebrating.
The boys returned to the court for two singles and two doubles matches to determine the team champion. In the end it came down to a three set doubles match with Casey’s Taylor Leigh and Hunter Pierce coming out on top of Garrard’s duo of Wall-Anderson (0-6, 6-2, 6-1).
Seniors Brad Jeffries and Brook Curry will get the opportunity to continue their high school career on Thursday as they advance to state competition. They’ll be joined by the girls’ doubles team of freshman Haley Owens and sophomore Allie Tinsley.
By winning the team championship the boys had the chance to increase the number of players going to state thanks to a change in the process that was new this year. An additional round of sectionals was added in which the team champions from regions 9, 10, 11 and 12 played on Saturday.  Competition was fierce with Casey falling to Model 3-0.

photo/VICKI MARTIN Senior Brad Jeffries display the number “3” designating the Rebels’ third consecutive 12th Region championship. Casey beat Garrard in a playoff to earn the tennis title. From left are Assistant Coach Bennie Patton, Hunter Pierce, Luke Salyers, Jeffries, Taylor Leigh, Skyler Wright, Trent Rodgers, Clay Cannon, Justin Underwood, Ryan Martin and Coach Philip Williams.

Buy this photo

Boys’ coach Phillip Williams had high hopes for this year and the team hasn’t disappointed him in the least.
“My players and I had high expectations this year in regards to our regular season but after losing Kyle Jeffries to graduation, we were a little uncertain, yet optimistic, that we could have a great year,” Williams said. “Our hard work over the summer was a major factor in finishing the season at 17-0. The last time we have been beaten, as a team, was 5-4 by Danville in 2008. We are at this point undefeated in regular season play for three straight years and fortunately, we have won three 12th Regional Championships.”
Girls’ coach Tommy Wood said his team wasn’t given a fair shake in the way the second-place finisher was determined, but was still pleased with their year.
“The team tie-breaker process was not a fair one in my opinion. We defeated them (Pulaski) during the season twice. That should have been a consideration,” Wood said. “I really don’t understand their (KHSAA) process but our girls had a great season and I am excited to be sending our No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles to the state tournament.”

12th Region Tournament
May 13-17

Boys
Singles
1. Brad Jeffries, first round bye; second round def. Brian Wray of Boyle 6-0, 6-0; quarter final def. Ethan Smith of Garrard 6-1, 6-1; Semi-Final def. Reza Katanbaf 6-1, 6-0; Finals loss to Colin Hart 0-6, 0-6.
6. Ryan Martin, First Round def. Rett Pigman of Mercer 6-0, 6-4; Second Round def. Brandon Drew of Garrard 6-1, 6-1; Quarter Finals loss to Collin Heart of Lincoln 1-6, 0-6
Doubles
6. Clay Cannon-Skylar Wright, First Round def. Hickey-Baker of Monticello 6-0, 6-0; Second Round def. Jones-Santiago of Madison Southern 6-2, 6-3; Quarter Final loss to Kirksey-Neal of Wayne 4-6, 4-6
Unseeded. Taylor Leigh-Hunter Pierce, First Round def. Howard-Ruffner of Madison Southern 6-2, 6-1; Second Round loss to Akers-Kendrick of Boyle 4-6, 1-6

Girls
Singles
3. Brook Curry, First Round Bye; Second Round def. Mey Mey Kong of Danville 6-0, 6-1; Quarter Final def. Christy Ingram of Mercer 6-1, 6-4; Semi-Final loss to Casi Clark of Wayne 1-6, 0-6
Unseeded Tylyn Leigh, First Round def. Nicole Davis of Wayne 6-4, 3-6, 6-1; Second Round loss to Savanna Barnett of Mercer 6-2, 7-6 (4) tie-break
Doubles
4. Tinsley-Owens, First Round Bye; Second Round def. Siddigui-Angel of Danville 6-2, 6-0; Quarter Finals def. Parks-Stockholm of Pulaski 6-3, 6-3; Semi-Final loss to Baxter-Yates of Mercer 4-6, 4-6
Unseeded Coffman-Lynn, First Round def. Marcum-Coffee 6-1, 6-1; Second Round loss to Erwin-Erwin 6-7 (4) tie-break, 7-5, 7-5