TENNIS REGION

Corbin’s William Reedy advanced to the semifinals with a win over Ben Barnett of Bell County. 

The 13^th Region Tennis Tournament has reached the semifinals at Whitley County High School and the tournament will be completed today beginning at 4 p.m. The Corbin boys and girls teams are leading the race for the championship trophies they won last year, but North Laurel, Whitley County and Middlesboro are right on the Redhounds’ heels.

The tournament has been slowed by rain. The tournament got underway Friday with some first-round matches and was scheduled to get into full swing Saturday, but rain-washed the tournament out. 

The tournament being held at Whitley County resumed Sunday and again Monday. However, some matches were incomplete because of late afternoon showers.

In boy’s play, Corbin leads the tournament with 11 points and still has its entire team alive.

“I am very pleased so far with our showing at region,” Corbin Coach Nickie Dixon said.  “William Reedy had a revenge match against a North Laurel player in the quarterfinals.  He didn’t drop a game. That was a huge win for him since he lost to the player earlier in the season.  He also hasn’t dropped a game all during this region tournament. He has earned a well deserved spot in the semifinals.”

  “Anthony (Warf) played a very tough Pete Comparoni (Whitley County) today.  Pete wasn’t seeded but we knew he would be tough to beat.  Anthony took care of business in the first set. Then Pete slowed down the pace and Anthony had to adjust.  Anthony played great.  He kept the pressure on his opponent and it paid off.”

“He will be ready for his revenge match against Luke Brooks in the Semis. He lost to Brooks in three sets during the regular season,” Dixon said.

“Connor and Chandler Maguet have played high quality tennis so far this region.  With this being their first region you definitely can’t see any signs of nerves.  They will now play the one seed and they are ready.  This could be the upset of the region if the Maguet’s could pull it off.  I am confident with the way they are playing and I can’t wait to see that match up in the Semis,” she said.

“Josh Jewell and Seth Heinss have to return to finish their match.  They looked sharp in their match, taking an impressive lead 6-0 1-0. Unfortunately the rain would not hold off.  They will have to return to complete that match.”

“If they continue and win I will have all of my team in the semifinals and a 12 to 9 lead over North Laurel. That will put us in the driver’s seat to win region,” Dixon said.

When rain halted Monday’s action Corbin had 11 points while North Laurel was close behind with 9 points. Whitley County and Harlan were tied with six points each.

Second-Round:

Danny Butcher, Whitley County defeated Eric Francis, Middlesboro, 6-0, 6-0. Jacob Garrison of Clay County defeated Austin Phelps of South Laurel, 6-4, 6-3. Four-seeded Arjun Kanthawar of North Laurel shutout Albury Melendaz of Knox Central, 6-0, 6-0 while fifth-seeded William Reedy beat Bell County’s Ben Barnett, 6-0-, 6-0.

Pete Comparoni, Whitley County defeated Justin Phelps of South Laurel, 6-1, 6-0. Corbin’s Anthony Warf rolled past Bell County’s Kevin Osborn 6-0, 6-1. Second-seeded Luke Brooks, Pineville shutout North Laurel’s Josh Harris, 6-0, 6-0.

Quartfinals:

Butcher and Jacob Garrison are in the first set of a rain delay. Reedy rolled past Kanthawar, 6-0, 6-0 while Warf beat Comparoni 6-1, 6-4. Brooks easily handled Tevor Pryor of Harlan, 6-0-, 6-0.

Second-Round Doubles:

Third-seeded Maguet-Maguet beat Pineville’s Asher-Bingham, 6-1, 6-0. Sixth-seeded Whitley County duo of Douglas-Tan beat South Laurel’s Kirby-Hubbuch, 6-1, 6-1. Corbin’s Jewell-Heinss downed Shelley and Moses of Whitley County, 6-1, 6-2.

Quarterfinals Doubles:

Maguet-Maguet handed Douglas-Tan a 6-1, 6-0 defeat while Jewell-Heinss lead Clay County’s Asher-Robinson 1-0 in the second set. They won the first set, 6-0.