BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
The Martin County High School tennis teams turned in a mix of results across a busy week of competition, highlighted by a boys’ victory over Johnson Central and a girls’ win over Paintsville in tri-match play.
In a tri-match at Lawrence County on April 7, the Lady Cardinals defeated Paintsville 4-1 but fell to Lawrence County 3-2.
Martin County’s girls were strong in singles against Paintsville. Chloe May earned an 8-6 win and Haruka Kaibori added an 8-1 victory. In doubles, Adalynn Maynard and Addison Kerr secured a 6-1 win to help seal the team victory. Bella Marcum and Kerr dropped a 6-8 decision in the two-seed slot.
Against Lawrence County, Kerr picked up a 6-1 singles win as the one-seed. Hale added a 6-0 win. Adalynn Maynard narrowly dropped a 7-5 decision. In doubles, May and Kaibori were forced to retire due to injury while trailing 5-4, and Kadence Blackburn and Bella Marcum fell 8-0.
The Martin County boys fell to Lawrence County 5-0 but rebounded to defeat Paintsville 3-2. Chase Hinkle led the effort with a 6-4 singles win. Corey Endicott (1-8) and Anthony Mann (4-8) dropped their matches against the Tigers. Brayden Chapman and Shawn Marcum were defeated 6-1 in doubles play.
Back on their home courts April 9, the Lady Cardinals dropped a narrow 3-2 decision to Johnson Central.
B. Marcum earned a 6-4 singles win for Martin County. May faced a tough challenge against the top-ranked player in the 15th Region, Emily Tripplett, falling 6-1. Addison Kerr also dropped her singles match 6-2.
In doubles play, Blackburn and B. Marcum picked up a 6-2 victory, but Martin County came up short in the remaining matches. The team of Maynard and Hale fell 6-0, Kenzlee Smith and Keyera Maynard dropped a 6-0 decision, and Horn and Hallee Preece fell 6-3.
The Cardinals’ boys team delivered a 3-2 win over Johnson Central.
Bryson Dials earned a 6-2 singles victory as the top seed. Bentley Bowman won a marathon tiebreaker match, 7-6 (33-31), in one of the most competitive contests of the day. Caden Mann (4-6) and A. Mann fell in their singles matches.
Martin County secured the team win with strong doubles play. Cole Damron and Chase Hinkle cruised to a 6-0 victory in the two-seed slot. Brayden Chapman and Bailey Crum added a 6-2 win. Corey Endicott and Shawn Marcum fell in their doubles match as the top seed.
Martin County was scheduled to play Shelby Valley on April 13 and Pikeville on April 14. The Cardinals will play Hazard on April 16.