Team Tennis: Lubbock High beats OHS in opening round of 2-5A tournament

By winning plenty of tight matches, Lubbock High produced a one-sided score against Odessa High in the opening round of the District 2-5A Team Tennis Tournament.

The Westerners won four of the five matches that went to three sets Thursday while beating the Bronchos 16-3 at the Ratliff Tennis Complex.

It was the third meeting between the teams this season and the largest margin of victory, though many of the matches finished with closer scores.

Lubbock High advanced to play Lubbock Coronado at 9 a.m. today at Permian in the second round, while Odessa High will play either Permian or Amarillo High in a consolation match at 1:30 p.m. at OHS.

"As a coach you always look back and see the close ones and try to pick out the ones that maybe you could've pulled out if we'd have taken advantage of some opportunities," Odessa High head coach Jayson Everett said. "Looking at that, we gave ourselves the opportunity to win and just didn't finish through.

"That's an improvement from the previous two times and we came out and played some good doubles. It was close for a long time, so I'm pretty proud of them."

Justin Hernandez played a part in two of Odessa High's victories, teaming with Annie Lewis for a 6-2, 6-3 victory in mixed doubles.

The senior also pulled out a 6-1, 2-6, 6-2 win over Trevor Chilton at No. 1 boys singles - Odessa High's lone three-set win of the day.

Odessa High junior Cedric Smith pulled out another tight match, beating Tavin Dotson 6-4, 6-4 at No. 2 boys singles. Earlier, Smith and Ryan DuBois saw a strong effort fall short at No. 1 boys doubles, falling 6-4, 7-6 (5) to Dotson and Alejandro Figueroa.

Smith wanted to go 2-0, but at least was happy to pick up a victory.

"It's nice to pull out a match - it helps your confidence," Smith said. "We played really well in doubles. It was one of our best doubles matches. It was just a matter of keeping it up and not getting tight (in singles).

"You've just got to really think and make sure you remember what you've been doing in practice and really relaxing."

Two of the three-set losses came in girls doubles. Lubbock High's Debby Rogers-Maggie Jordan beat Odessa High's Abbey Rodriguez-Samantha Canlas at No. 1 by a 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 score while Lubbock High's Aimee Blake-Caitlin Campagna edged Odessa High's Tahlia Sanchez-Lexi Valenzuela 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 at the No. 2 position.

Lubbock High also won the other three doubles matches, giving it a 6-1 lead heading into singles.

"I really was surprised we were up 6-1 after the doubles because we had some close matches there," Lubbock High coach Mark Dotson said. "I thought Odessa played some of their best doubles. Even though it came out 6-1, I felt like they played really well. We just took care of business in singles and it was really good to finish the way we finished. I'm very pleased."

Other than the top two boys singles matches, Odessa High couldn't muster another victory. At No. 4 boys singles, Odessa High's Jerry Cuellar fell 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 to Lubbock High's Justin Garcia and Figueroa topped DuBois 6-3, 6-4 at No. 3 boys singles.

In girls singles, Blake beat Sanchez 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 at the No. 3 position and Rogers held off Lewis 6-3, 6-3 at No. 1 in a match with several close games.

"It's tough to lose that many close matches, especially at a district tournament where it really counts," Everett said. "But nonetheless, my kids played well."

>> District 2-5A Team Tennis Tournament

Thursday-Saturday

THURSDAY'S SCORES

First Round

Match 1: Midland Lee 11, Lubbock Monterey 4.

Match 2: Lubbock High 17, Odessa High 2.

FRIDAY'S SCHEDULE

Quarterfinals

Match 3: San Angelo Central vs. Midland Lee, 9 a.m., Odessa Country Club.

Match 4: Midland High vs. Amarillo Tascosa, 9 a.m., Ratliff Tennis Complex.

Match 5: Permian vs. Amarillo High, 9 a.m., Odessa High's Bob Clark Tennis Center.

Match 6: Lubbock Coronado vs. Lubbock High, 9 a.m., Permian High School.

Championship Semifinals

Match 7: Central-Lee winner vs. Midland High-Tascosa winner, 1:30 p.m., Permian High School.

Match 8: Permian-Amarillo High winner vs. Coronado-Lubbock High winner, 1:30 p.m., Ratliff Tennis Complex.

Consolation Semifinals

Match 9: Central-Lee loser vs. Lubbock Monterey, 1:30 p.m., Odessa Country Club.

Match 10: Odessa High vs. Permian-Amarillo High loser, 1:30 p.m., Odessa High's Bob Clark Tennis Center.

SATURDAY'S SCHEDULE

Championship

Match 11: Match 7 winner vs. Match 8 winner, 9 a.m., Ratliff Tennis Complex.

Third-Place Match

Match 12: Match 7 loser vs. Match 8 loser, 9 a.m., Permian High School.

Consolation Final

Match 13: Match 9 winner vs. Match 10 winner, 9 a.m., Odessa High's Bob Clark Tennis Center.

Second-Place Playback

Match 14: If necessary, Match 12 winner vs. Match 11 loser, 1:30 p.m., Ratliff Tennis Complex. Only will be needed if third-place finisher was not beaten in semifinals by championship match loser.

>> Lubbock High 16, Odessa High 3 

At Ratliff Tennis Complex

Boys singles: Justin Hernandez, Odessa High, def. Trevor Chilton, Lubbock High, 6-1, 2-6, 6-2; Cedric Smith, Odessa High, def. Tavin Dotson, Lubbock High, 6-4, 6-4; Alejandro Figueroa, Lubbock High, def. Ryan DuBois, Odessa High, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4; Justin Garcia, Lubbock High, def. Jerry Cuellar, Odessa High, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4; Ronnie Woodard, Lubbock High, def. Sam Primera, Odessa High, 6-2, 6-1; Ishan Jayawickrama, Lubbock High, def. Jordan Wilson, Odessa High, 6-1, 6-3.

Girls singles: Debby Rogers, Lubbock High, def. Annie Lewis, Odessa High, 6-3, 6-3; Maggie Jordan, Lubbock High, def. Abbey Rodriguez, Odessa High, 6-2, 6-1; Aimee Blake, Lubbock high, def. Tahlia Sanchez, Odessa High, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3; Caitlin Campagna, Lubbock High, def. Samantha Canlas, Odessa High, 6-3, 6-3; Chelsea Huffhones, Lubbock High, def. Brook Hudson, Odessa High, 6-3, 6-2; Ivelisse Figueroa, Lubbock High, def. Ellis Whalen, Odessa High, 6-3, 6-3.

Boys doubles: Dotson-Figueroa, Lubbock High, def. Smith-Dubois, 6-4, 7-6 (5); Chilton-Garcia, Lubbock High, def. Cuellar-Primera, Odessa High, 6-1, 6-4; Woodard-Fuentes, Lubbock High, def. Wilson-Saldana, Odessa High, 6-3, 6-2.

Girls doubles: Rogers-Jordan, Lubbock High, def. Rodriguez-Canlas, Odessa High, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1; Blake-Campagna, Lubbock High, def. Sanchez-Valenzuela, Odessa High, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3; Patel-Figueroa, Lubbock High, def. Whalen-Hudson, Odessa High, 6-2, 6-3.

Mixed doubles: Hernandez-Lewis, Odessa High, def. Jayawickrama-Allison, Lubbock High, 6-2, 6-3.

>> Midland Lee 11, Lubbock Monterey 4

At Midland Lee HS

Boys singles: Robby Wiginton, Monterey, def. Doug Zeltmann, Lee, 6-2, 6-4; Kyle Clark, Lee, def. James Welz, Monterey, 3-6, 6-3, 10-4; Ryan Domingues, Lee, def. Ryan Wilkinson, Monterey, 6-1, 6-4; Michael Endsley, Lee, def. Evan Thompson, Monterey, 6-0, 6-0; Rishi Doctor, Lee, def. Ryan Icard, Monterey, 6-1, 6-2; Brensen Bains, Lee, def. Landon Dirks, Monterey, 6-1, 6-3.

Girls singles: White-Willis, Lee, def. Cawthen-Goodwin, Monterey, 6-2, 6-2; Bentley-Weaver, Lubbock Monterey, def. Leary-Leary, Lee, 6-2, 6-1; Leake-Salsky, Lubbock Monterey, def. Bains-Coots, Lee.

Boys doubles: Zeltmann-Clark, Lee, def. Merritt-Wiginton, injury default; Endsley-Doctor, Lee, def. Wilkinson-Welz, Monterey, 7-6, 6-4; Domingues-Albert, Lee, def. Icard-Contreras, Monterey, 6-2, 6-3

Girls doubles: Morgan White, Lee, def. Mindy Weaver, Monterey, 6-0, 6-0; Kaprise Leary, Lee, def. Alex Salsky, Monterey, 7-6, 6-4

Mixed doubles: Thompson-Trout, Monterey, def. Bains-White, Lee 6-2, 6-4

>> THE BASICS

District 2-5A Team Tennis Tournament

>> Format of matches: One mixed doubles, three girls doubles, three boys doubles, six girls singles and six boys singles matches

>> First team to win 10 matches advances

>> Top two teams qualify for Region I-5A Team Tennis Championships, scheduled for Oct. 31-Nov. 1 in Abilene