CULLMAN COUNTY – Two local tennis teams have punched their tickets to the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) championships following success in this week's sectional tournaments.
West Point's Lady Warriors won the Class 5A, Section 5 Tournament in Gardendale at Moncrief Park. The Lady Warriors swept through the competition, continuing a fine 2017 season with 12 victories in 13 assignments prior to the postseason.
The Lady Warriors went to Gardendale on a 10-game winning streak. Their only loss of the season was on March 10, when they fell to Douglas by a team score of 6-3.
Coach Shanda Garner has a young group of talented personnel with eighth-grader Annalyse Cole, freshmen Miriam and Micah Oldacre and juniors Caroline Thompson, Katie Coleman, Leah Smith and Paige Quick.
Cullman's Lady Bearcats competed in the 6A, Section 5 Tournament in Pell City. The Lady 'Cats shook off a slow start to finish second in the sectional, knocking Albertville out of a state tournament berth.
Coach Cory Goble's Lady 'Cats are in the state tournament for the 10th consecutive year. Kacie Donaldson won the no. 1 singles title; Reagan Martin and Emily Hancock finished second in no. 5 and no. 6 singles and claimed the runner-up position in no. 3 doubles.
West Point's Matt Daniel and Carson Moon earned a trip to state by winning their sectional in no. 1 and no. 2 singles. West Point's boys just missed out on team qualification, coming in third place.
Cullman's boys were also close to the next round of the playoffs, but lost out to Oxford and Pell City in Section 5 play. Parker Adams won his third consecutive sectional title, playing the no. 2 singles. Drew Fillinger and Tucker Rainwater had success in the no. 3 doubles, defeating Pell City in a tie-breaking set.
West Point's Lady Warriors are bound for the Mobile Tennis Center for the 5A state tournament while the Cullman Lady Bearcats will stay close to home, competing in the 6A championship at Point Mallard in Decatur.
The state tournament will begin Monday with the first round; championships are slated to take place Tuesday.
Pairings and match times will be announced over the weekend, after all sectional meets are completed by Thursday evening.
Images courtesy of Cullman High School and West Point High School
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