The Republic tennis team dug itself a hole during doubles play at its team district semifinal match against Nixa Tuesday night. But the Tigers turned it around with a dominating performance in singles play, winning four straight matches to take a 5-2 win.
The key match of the night was the #1 doubles match involving Dylan Mackey and Hunter Creek. Mackey and Creek fell behind 5-2, but charged back to win 8-6 against Tanner Powley and Garrett Robertson. If Mackey and Creek had lost their doubles match, Republic would have faced a 3-0 deficit at the start of singles play, and the night might have ended up differently.
In singles, Creek and Brett Carpenter made quick work of their opponents. Creek won 6-2, 6-2; Carpenter won 6-1, 6-1. Dylan Mackey avenged his loss in the COC championship match with a 7-6 6-0 win over Powley. Isaac Jordan clinched the team victory when he wrapped up his 6-3, 6-3 win over Todd Jones.
The remaining matches were stopped when Republic clinched. In the unfinished matches: Logan Elder came back from an early 4-2 deficit to tie 6-6 when the match was called. Austin Massey was up 5-4 when his match was called.
Republic improves to 15-1, and will play for a district championship at top-seeded Joplin Wednesday.
Doubles Scores:
1. Mackey/Creek d. Powley/Robertson 8-6
2. Jones/Jarvis d. Jordan/Carpenter 8-6
3. Meads/Barnes d. Elder/Massey 8-6
Singles Scores:
1. Dylan Mackey d. Tanner Powley 7-5, 6-0
2. Hunter Creek d. Garrett Robertson 6-2, 6-2
3. Isaac Jordan d. Todd Jones 6-3, 6-3
4. Brett Carpenter d. Mark Meads 6-1, 6-1
5. Logan Elder v. Tanner Barnes- Stopped at 6-6 (1-0)
6. Austin Massey v. Garrett Jarvis Stopped at 5-4