10th STRAIGHT

The Corbin Redhounds won their 10^th straight region tennis title, but the 2010 crown didn’t come easy. After four days of off and on play, the region finished in a two-way deadlock between the Redhounds and South Laurel.

To determine a region champion, the teams had to battle until one of the teams came away with the win.

“I knew that the playoff could be very close because South is a senior team and they played well in the tournament,” said Corbin Coach Curt Hart.

Sophomore Brody Freeman had to take on South Laurel ace, Blake Walden. “Brody set the pace and put pressure on South by defeating Blake Walden at #1 singles 6-0 and 6-1,” said Hart. “Brody was totally focused and played with the mentality of trying to win every point. His quick victory enabled him to support our other teams which truly gave us a needed boost.”
“I was surprised that we dropped the first set in the remaining matches (2 singles, 1 & 2 doubles) but we did not panic,” said Hart.  “This was the first regional tournament for my doubles players and to be thrown into a regional playoff is automatic pressure.”
“I knew Taylor’s (Jones) match would be long because both players have similar styles. Both are excellent ground strokers and they make very few mistakes,” said Hart. “Plus, Taylor wanted to avenge his three-set loss to Dusty Herron in singles earlier in the year when he played him just after returning from a 10-day layoff due to his wrist injury.”
So after 3.5 hours Taylor defeated Herron,  5-7, 6-3, 7-5.
“Taylor is a true winner, he showed his never give up attitude during the 13th Regional Basketball Tournament and it was evident today,” said Hart.
Seth Heinss (eighth grade) and Senior Arpan Dixit were one of the best doubles teams in the regional until Arpan hurt his shoulder May 3rd against South.  Avery Warf (sixth grade) joined Seth on May 10 at the Model match and they played well together.
“Good doubles teams have "chemistry", that is they encourage one another at all times,” said Hart. “Plus both Seth and Avery have excellent penetrating ground stroke and I felt that this would give many regional teams difficulty.”
“After losing the first set we broke their serve early in the second and their (Seth & Avery) confidence soared,” added Hart. “They defeated a very good South team who upset the two and four seeds in the tournament. Seth’s and Avery’s hard work during the off season, playing tournaments and taking lessons all summer long, paid off for them and Redhound tennis today.”
“Harrison Reedy (seventh grade) and Josh Jewell (freshman) molded well together by midseason,” said Hart. “Both are extremely quick and have an all around tennis game. After dropping the first set we changed our strategy. South’s two doubles David Herron & Hiazi play a soft game, they lob and counter punch. We backed off the net and started taking advantage of their mistakes. This enabled Reedy and Jewell to get momentum and frustrate South.”
“This is one of the best team victories I can remember,” said Hart.  “Having the top two teams tie in the tournament, having a playoff, and matching South Laurel’s senior team against our first year doubles teams, and then sweeping them was at total team effort.” “This team kept the Corbin Tennis tradition alive,” said Hart.  “Ten in a row for the Boys Tennis team.”

Prior to the play-off, Freeman defeated Herron in the semifinals, 6-4, 6-2, then beat Walden in the finals, 6-3, 6-2. Walden knocked off Jones in the semifinals, 6-3, 6-4.

Corbin will take its team to the KHSAA State Tournament later this week at the University of Kentucky as a result of the win over South Laurel.

Teams: Corbin 13 (won region with 4-0 sweep of South Laurel), South Laurel 13, Knox Central 6, Whitley Co., 6, Middlesboro 5. Clay Co. 4, North Laurel 4, Barbourville 3, Pineville 3,  Bell Co. 2, Harlan 1, Lynn Camp 0.