September 27, 2018 at 2:34 a.m.
Jay falls short after gamble
Patriots lose sectional semifinal to Golden Falcons, 3-2
Jay falls short after gamble
Copyright 2018, The Commercial Review
All Rights Reserved
Scott Miller was left wondering what to do just about weeks ago.
Coming off a 4-1 loss to the Golden Falcons on Sept. 14, the Patriot boys tennis coach was pondering ways to give his team a better shot come sectional.
His answer was to move some parts within the lineup.
It nearly paid off.
The Jay County High School boys tennis team had its season come to an end on Wednesday in the semifinal of the Sectional 43 tournament it hosted with a 3-2 loss to the Winchester Golden Falcons.
“They all went out there and they all played really well,” Miller said. “I wouldn’t say a negative word about them at all.
“They gave it all they had, just Winchester was a better team tonight so congratulations to Winchester.”
Winchester advances to the sectional final at 5 p.m. Thursday against defending champion Union City in an all-Randolph County final. The Indians knocked off Randolph Southern 4-1 in the other semifinal Wednesday.
Miller gambled by moving senior Conner Benter, who went his entire career as a singles player, to No. 1 doubles with classmate Xavier Ninde.
He shifted Gabe Blankenship up to fill Benter’s spot, and slid freshman Crosby Heniser up to No. 2.
Sheldon Upp, a junior and Ninde’s former doubles partner, moved down to No. 2 doubles with senior Gavin Randall, while taking Christian Romero from Randall to play No. 3 singles.
Although Wednesday’s tilt with Payton Sparks and Beman Welch was just their third match together, Benter and Ninde played as if they had been partners all season.
The Patriot tandem won the first set 6-2 before dropping the opening game of the second set. But then they went on a tear, taking the next five games before splitting the final two for another 6-2 victory.
Despite their win, Benter and Ninde do not move on to the regional as a doubles team because they did not play as partners for 50 percent of the Patriots’ matches this season.
“In retrospect I wish I could have gotten them the 50 percent and gotten them through, given them that option,” Miller said. “It just didn’t work out that way. I’m happy they ended their career on a positive note.”
The Randall/Upp duo accounted for Jay County’s other victory as they knocked off Garrett and Grant Wagner, 6-3, 6-3.
They trailed 3-2 in the first set, only to take the next four games. Just like Benter and Ninde, Randall and Upp dropped the opening game of set two. They also won the next four before splitting games six and seven for a 5-2 advantage.
Upp had the serve in the potential match-clinching game, but the Wagners broke his serve. Unforced errors by Winchester gave the Patriot duo the win.
“Both of my doubles teams played really well tonight in matches when we played Winchester the last time were close (and) hard fought,” Miller said. “We lost at (No. 1) doubles and scraped by at (No. 2) doubles and tonight we didn’t have that issue.”
Winchester swept the singles matches, beginning with Alex Pegg defeating Blankenship 6-2, 6-2. Nick Dunica knocked off Heniser 6-1, 6-1, and Ross Culy beat Romero 6-0, 6-4.
“We were a step closer,” Miller said. “But I just needed a singles player to come through for us tonight.”
All Rights Reserved
Scott Miller was left wondering what to do just about weeks ago.
Coming off a 4-1 loss to the Golden Falcons on Sept. 14, the Patriot boys tennis coach was pondering ways to give his team a better shot come sectional.
His answer was to move some parts within the lineup.
It nearly paid off.
The Jay County High School boys tennis team had its season come to an end on Wednesday in the semifinal of the Sectional 43 tournament it hosted with a 3-2 loss to the Winchester Golden Falcons.
“They all went out there and they all played really well,” Miller said. “I wouldn’t say a negative word about them at all.
“They gave it all they had, just Winchester was a better team tonight so congratulations to Winchester.”
Winchester advances to the sectional final at 5 p.m. Thursday against defending champion Union City in an all-Randolph County final. The Indians knocked off Randolph Southern 4-1 in the other semifinal Wednesday.
Miller gambled by moving senior Conner Benter, who went his entire career as a singles player, to No. 1 doubles with classmate Xavier Ninde.
He shifted Gabe Blankenship up to fill Benter’s spot, and slid freshman Crosby Heniser up to No. 2.
Sheldon Upp, a junior and Ninde’s former doubles partner, moved down to No. 2 doubles with senior Gavin Randall, while taking Christian Romero from Randall to play No. 3 singles.
Although Wednesday’s tilt with Payton Sparks and Beman Welch was just their third match together, Benter and Ninde played as if they had been partners all season.
The Patriot tandem won the first set 6-2 before dropping the opening game of the second set. But then they went on a tear, taking the next five games before splitting the final two for another 6-2 victory.
Despite their win, Benter and Ninde do not move on to the regional as a doubles team because they did not play as partners for 50 percent of the Patriots’ matches this season.
“In retrospect I wish I could have gotten them the 50 percent and gotten them through, given them that option,” Miller said. “It just didn’t work out that way. I’m happy they ended their career on a positive note.”
The Randall/Upp duo accounted for Jay County’s other victory as they knocked off Garrett and Grant Wagner, 6-3, 6-3.
They trailed 3-2 in the first set, only to take the next four games. Just like Benter and Ninde, Randall and Upp dropped the opening game of set two. They also won the next four before splitting games six and seven for a 5-2 advantage.
Upp had the serve in the potential match-clinching game, but the Wagners broke his serve. Unforced errors by Winchester gave the Patriot duo the win.
“Both of my doubles teams played really well tonight in matches when we played Winchester the last time were close (and) hard fought,” Miller said. “We lost at (No. 1) doubles and scraped by at (No. 2) doubles and tonight we didn’t have that issue.”
Winchester swept the singles matches, beginning with Alex Pegg defeating Blankenship 6-2, 6-2. Nick Dunica knocked off Heniser 6-1, 6-1, and Ross Culy beat Romero 6-0, 6-4.
“We were a step closer,” Miller said. “But I just needed a singles player to come through for us tonight.”
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