CBA's Belom-Johnson advance to the state 3A tennis tournament

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on October 26, 2015 1:48 PM

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WILSON -- Charles B. Aycock's tandem of Sabrina Johnson and Casie Belom clinched a spot in the season-ending N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 3-A state tennis championships.

Johnson-Belom opened eastern regional play with a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Richlands' Maddie Fetsko-Madison Fountain on the Barton College Tennis Complex courts. The Golden Falcons secured their trip to Burlington with a 6-4, 6-2 conquest of Triton's Emily Neville-Madison Newton the quarterfinals.

In the semifinals, Johnson-Belom fell to Rocky Mount's Eliza Fike-Mary Blair Thompson 7-5, 4-6, 4-6. They dropped their consolation final to Fike's Liz Short-Kate Hanson 2-6, 7-5, 2-6.

"They played great Friday, but just couldn't get their rhythm today (Saturday)," first-year CBA head coach Gene Stancil said. "The matches were close, but we came up short both times. We made some great shots, but had more unforced errors than our opponents."

Aycock's doubles of Kassidy Pitchford-Cassidy Coerver battled from behind to defeated Topsail's Sierra Dougherty-Sara Major 3-6, 6-2, 6-1. But their postseason road ended with a quarterfinal-round loss to RM's Fike-Thompson.

"Kassidy and Cassidy did well, but gave up too many points early in the second match and just couldn't get them back," Stancil said. "Those two were just a bundle of nerves and couldn't seem to get on track. I know they could have gone farther, but it just wasn't their day."

Eastern Wayne's Brennan Dove fell to Corinth-Holders' Megan Dyer 6-1, 6-3 in her first-round singles match.

The two-day, 16-team state tournament begins Friday morning in Burlington. First serve is 9 a.m.