Andrew McCord’s clutch tiebreaker victory propelled Republic past Ozark 5-3 in the boys tennis district semifinals Tuesday, avenging a stinging loss from earlier this season.
The win wasn’t secure until McCord captured a super-tiebreaker in his singles match, clinching the victory and touching off a celebration as his teammates rushed to congratulate him.
“I knew what was on the line. I knew it was coming down to me,” McCord said. “They ended our season last year and I knew I had to come up big, so I think I did that.”
Republic took a 2-1 lead after doubles play, with Lucas Riffe and Gavin Collyott winning at No. 1 doubles and Cooper Choate and Nico Lugli winning at No. 3. That represented a key improvement over Republic’s earlier 5-4 loss to Ozark, when the Tigers dropped two of three doubles matches.
Riffe and Collyott each won their singles matches to push Republic’s lead to 4-1, but Ozark rallied as Lugli and Choate both lost their singles matches, cutting Republic’s advantage to 4-3.
The pressure shifted to McCord, who had won his first set 6-4 but dropped the second. In the super-tiebreaker, McCord jumped to an early lead and held on for a 10-5 win.
“(He showed) toughness, and he just ran balls down that were really difficult to get to, and he made plays at the end,” said Republic coach David Smashey.
McCord said his second-set loss was partly strategic. “Second one I came out slower. He had more energy. He got me in that one, but I also conserved some of my energy for the tiebreaker,” he said. “So I was able to come out hard and fast and got up early.”
For Republic, the win was especially sweet after losing to Ozark earlier this season.
“This gets us where we should have been,” Smashey said. “This is a match we felt like we should have won last time and let it get away. And so this has been in the back of our minds, or the front of our minds, for quite a while.”
Republic advances to face Joplin in the district championship match Wednesday, weather permitting. The Tigers have lost twice to Joplin this season, but McCord is optimistic.
“We’ve lost to them twice, but we’re getting closer and closer,” he said. “I think tomorrow will be a different outcome. I think we’ll get them.”
Ozark’s season ends with a 16-4 record. Republic improves to 15-4.
