GARRETT, FRANKLIN DUPLICATE DISTRICT DOUBLES TITLE

To be crowned Homecoming Queen on Friday , Linley Garrett, who will have cousin Lexi Franklin as her Senior Maid, already figured to have a pretty big week.
However, they missed one of the homecoming week dress up days – fake an injury day – because of the District 3A-4 tennis tournament where they might have been better suited for predator versus prey day.

That is because Garrett and Franklin, already undefeated on the season, ran through the tournament bracket to win their second straight girls double title.

Seeded first, the Lady Bearcat duo ousted the eight seed from Paris (6-1, 6-0), then took out a Bismarck duo, who had been seeded fifth, by the same sets scores.

That assured them of a second straight state tournament appearance and set up a match with the second seeded team, also from Bismarck.

The Bismarck girls won the first set 6-2, becoming the first to take a set from Garrett and Franklin, but Garrett and Franklin drew even with a 6-3 set win then closed it with another 6-3 set.

The Lady Bearcat duo of Emma Ferguson and Harley Fitzjurls will also play in the state tournament after winning the third place match

Ferguson and Fitzjurls also dropped the first set to the same duo Garrett and Franklin had beaten to reach the finals, 6-3, then won back-to-back 6-4 sets.

Also attending the state tournament next week in Conway will be Noah Harrel, who was the boys singles runner-up.

Seeded second in the 11-player field, Harrell beat the 10-seed, who had upset the 7-seed, 6-0 and 6-0, to move to the semifinals against the three seed from Jessieville, who he topped 6-4, 6-4.

In the finals Harrel drew the top seed but dropped a pair of sets.

Taylor Shaver was seeded fifth and dropped his first round match.

In girls singles Angie Brown also qualified for the state tournament with a third place finish.

Brown beat the four seed in the qualifying game, 6-4 and 6-1. She did so despite dropping a competitive match with the two seed (4-6, 3-6) that followed a three set win over the 11-seed 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Mary Haynes won her first round match, earning a meeting with the eventual singles champion by doing so.

Wesley Fonseca and Aiden Carter were seeded third in doubles play and missed out on a state tournament appearance by falling in the third place match, 8-5.

Fonseca and Carter had won their first match over the six seeds but fell in a three set match to the two-seed.

Whitaker Kendall and Daxton Bowma were seeded fifth in the eight team field but lost their opener to the four seed.

The state tournament is set for next Monday.