Prep Tennis

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on May 18, 2005 1:46 PM

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Gators topple Durham Arts

DURHAM -- A new champion will be crowned in the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-A eastern regional dual-team final scheduled for next Tuesday afternoon.

Spring Creek made sure it would happen.

The Gators prevailed in two of three doubles matches and upset Durham School of the Arts 6-3 on Tuesday afternoon. After losing to the Bulldogs in the last two regional title tilts, Spring Creek (13-7) tries again next week at Farmville Central.

"Obviously, that's the biggest win we've ever had in boys' tennis," said fourth-year Gators coach Robert Jones. "I think we all played with a purpose. Everybody's mind was right."

Top-seeded Cliff Wilson (22-3) avenged a loss against Victor Cadilla in last Saturday's eastern regional title match. Wilson, a junior, prevailed 6-3, 6-1.

"Cliff took a little air out of the ball and made Cadilla hit more balls than what he did Saturday," said Jones. "Victor made a good amount of mistakes."

Ricky Galloway turned a 5-2 second-set deficit into a 6-5 lead against the Bulldogs' Russell Schmitz. Schmitz held serve to force a tiebreaker, which Galloway won 7-3 en route to a 6-0, 7-6 decision.

Third-seeded James Potts and sixth-seeded Brandon Strickland each triumphed in straight sets.

"James and Ricky played awesome," Jones said.

Wilson-Galloway secured the match and the Gators' third straight trip to the regional finals with a 10-4 victory in doubles.

Wilson and the doubles of Potts-Galloway return to action Friday in the NCHSAA Individual Championships at the Cary Tennis Center. First-round play begins at 9 a.m.

GC cruises on road

EDENTON -- Greene Central continued defense of its eastern regional 2-A dual-team title with a 9-0 conquest of John A. Holmes in the N.C. High School Athletic Association dual-team playoffs Tuesday afternoon.

The Rams (19-0) shut out an opponent for the 18th time this season and entertain either Warren County or Graham next Tuesday.

"Our singles was really sharp today," Greene Central coach Brad Sauls said. "We really got off to a good start on all the courts. That is so important in the playoffs because of the third-set tiebreak.

"Edenton has the strongest team we have played so far this year, so I was glad we were able to finish them off in singles."

Brent Darden, Lin Hall, Chris Hardy, Travis Moore, Banks Nimmo and Bryan Pollock each collected a straight-set win in singles. Pollock struggled a little bit after competing against No. 1 and 2 players in individual regional contests, but he adjusted well.

The combinations of Hall-Hardy, Darden-Nimmo and Moore-Pollock each triumphed in doubles.

"Our doubles play was not our best, but I think our team was too relaxed when we entered doubles because the match was technically over," Sauls said. "Their doubles teams came out firing winners all over the court and we were kind of in shock.

"Lin and Chris really struggled in the beginning with their consistency. But, in the end, they really focused and closed out our region's doubles runners-up (Alex Boehling-Collins Small)."

The doubles of Darden-Hall and Moore-Nimmo continue play Friday in the NCHSAA Individual Championships at the Cary Tennis Center.