‘HOUNDS SWEEP

Let the rivalry begin. When Corbin and Whitley County play in any sport there is a natural rivalry, but on the tennis courts there is fuel to the fire.

Especially in the coaching ranks. Curt Hart coaches Corbin on the boys’ side and Whitley County is under the direction of Nickie Dugger, his stepdaughter. The two met on the courts Saturday with Corbin shutting out the Colonels, 9-0.

The outcome wasn’t a total surprise to Dugger. “Corbin was just too tough for us today,” said Dugger. “I was proud of my boys for how they played. Danny (Butcher) played well against Brody Freeman.”

“Danny was coming off of a huge win from beating South Laurel’s Blake Walden Friday night,” said Dugger.  “He is playing excellent right now.  This is exactly where we want him to be with region just right around the corner.”

“My boys knew today would be very tough, my step-dad runs a great program,” Dugger said.  “I was really impressed with how his young ones played doubles.  We will go back to practice this week and work on what we need too.  Next time we will give them a better game.  The family rivalry is just getting started.”

“Whitley Co. has a strong boys team and we were very fortunate to win the close matches today,” said Hart. “Danny Butcher has developed into one of the top singles players in our regional. Danny made Brody work hard for every point.”

“I was especially proud of my two and three doubles because both lost their first set and fought back to win their respective matches in three sets.”

In singles, Freeman took Butcher, 6-2, 6-2 while Arpan Dixit downed Ryan Kelly, 8-2. Seth Heiness beat Pete Comparoni, 8-2; Harrison Reedy downed Briston Smith, 8-2 and Avery Warf defeated J.T. McCoy 8-4. Josh Jewell downed Michael Branham, 8-4.

In doubles, Dixit and Heiness rolled to a 6-2, 6-2 win over Kelly/Smith while Harrison Reedy and Avery Warf took a three-set win over McCoy and Caleb Lowery, 0-6, 6-1, 6-3.

The third doubles proved to be an exciting match as Josh Jewell and Anthony Warf pulled out a 4-6, 7-6 (8-6 tie breaker), 10-8 win over Comparoni/Branham.

The Redhounds will be back in action Thursday at Middlesboro and Friday at Richmond Model. Corbin will travel to Lexington Christian Tuesday.