LHS Tennis Secures 4th Straight Title in a Dramatic Victory
A nail-biting finish sees LHS triumph over Stone County
In a breathtaking close competition, Lafayette High School (LHS) grabbed its fourth consecutive state championship in the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 5A Tennis Championships. The event, which took place in Oxford, Miss. on Monday, saw the LHS team defeat Stone County in a match that ended dramatically with a 4-3 victory.
Breakthrough Doubles Victory
After grappling through the games with a draw at three matches each, the final victory came from an unexpected quarter. It was the boys’ doubles team from LHS, comprising DJ Hayes and Finn Rico, who turned the tables in Lafayette’s favor. With an audacious run, they scored the last five points in a third-set tiebreaker, swinging the victory towards their team.
The duo took the winning crown from Stone County’s Cree Cunningham and Jon Cobb with a thrilling 7-5, 6-7 (3-7), (10-7) scoreline.
Other Significant Matches
Adding to the team’s triumphant run was Jenna Lampton from LHS who secured a shutout victory of 6-0, 6-0 against Saylor Powell from Stone County. However, Stone County claimed a few victories with Lane Breland securing a win over LHS’s Tatum Spicer with a score of 6-3, 6-4 in boys singles. Furthermore, their mixed doubles team of Deakon Pearson and Arran Watson overpowered Lafayette’s Ethan Byrd and Sarah Puckett with a tremendous 6-0, 6-0 triumph.
Lafayette’s Winning Streak
Step by step, LHS built its road to success. Porter Lindsay and Jake Leary of LHS advanced with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Stone County’s Cayden Huse and Lincoln Cuevas. This added a significant contribution to the Commodores taking a 3-1 match lead.
Edge of the Seat Finale
Following Breland’s win, which made the score 3-2, LHS had a chance to set the final score in their favor during a girls’ doubles third-set tiebreaker. However, Bentli Spicer and Chloe Childress of LHS were met with defeat against Stone County’s Meredith Matthews and Josalynn Mossback. The Stone County duo won 6-3, 7-5, (13-11), which equalized the match score at three each.
Conclusion
Lafayette High entered the finals after a close tie of 4-3 against Brookhaven in the semifinals earlier in the day. Nonetheless, with their tenacity and determination, the LHS team pulled off a stunning victory, capturing the state championship title for the fourth time in a row, proving their dominance in the sport.
