The Banks County netters took the week off for spring break this week, and to take a moment to catch their breath before the region tournament next week. Banks County heads to North Oconee next Thursday, April 14, to compete for playoff seeding as both the Leopards and Lady Leopards swept through the sub-region this season 4-0 to earn the sub-region title.
The BCHS netters take a first round bye and are guaranteed a spot into the state playoffs. The region tournament results will just determine seeding for the playoffs. For the boys, this means that Banks County will face the winner of Jefferson and Rabun County. For the girls’ team, the Lady Leopards face the winner of Hart County versus the number three seed from 8-AA North.
Leading up to this past week’s spring break layoff, the Leopards faced several teams in the final weeks of the regular season.
Jake Schaefer makes good contact in earlier action. Justin Poole/staff
BC netters secure playoff berth; region tourney ahead
The boys faced Rabun County in the first sub-region match, winning 4-1 over the Wildcats.
Number one singles Trey Martin won 6-0, 6-2 followed by number two singles Jake Schaefer won 6-1, 6-1. Number three singles Justin Yang played well against a tough opponent, but lost 3-6, 2-6. In doubles action number one team of Chase Minish and Viet Pham won by forfeit and number two team of Adam Hiten and Jacob Blalock won 6-1, 6-0.
The boys followed it up with a clean sweep over Fannin County the next match, 5-0.
Martin won 6-1,6-0; Schaefer won 6-3, 6-1; Yang won 6-3, 6-1; Minish/Pham win by forfeit and Hiten/Blalock win by forfeit.
Banks County proved to be on a strong run as the Leopards defeated East Hall 4-1. Martin defeated the Viking’s Dane Allen, who had only dropped four games up to that point.
Martin went 6-2, 7-6. Schaefer won 6-0, 6-2; Yang lost 5-7, 1-6; Minish/Pham won 6-1, 7-6 and Hiten/Blalock won 6-3, 1-6, 6-4.
The boys also defeated Jackson County in the cross-over match in a close 3-2 battle.
Martin handily won 6-0, 6-0; Schaefer won 6-2, 6-0; Yang lost after a hard battle 6-3, 5-7, 6-7; Minish/Pham fell in the tiebreaker 1-6, 7-2, 4-7 and Hiten/Blalock won 6-0, 6-3 to secure the match.
With the region tournament now a week away, this season marks the the tenth consecutive trip the Leopard netters have made into the region tourney.
The boys’ streak started after the 2001 season and coach Mike Ruth said that making it consecutively into the region tourney that many times is a “big accomplishment.” Ruth also said that for Banks County to have a consistent record of appearances is also a big deal considering the opponents the team has faced over the years.
“This is a big deal for tennis because not all the teams go to the region tournament,” Ruth said. “It is good for us to make it back to the state tournament as well.”
Since Banks County is the sub-region champions a trip into the state playoffs is guaranteed.
LADY LEOPARDS
The Lady Leopards are also headed to the region tournament undefeated in the sub-region.
Coach Lisa Thomas said that the girls are looking forward to pushing deep into the playoffs.
“I want to thank the players, parents, and the school family for a great season,” she said. “With the regular season ending, the Banks County girls had a record of 8-10 overall and 4-0 in our sub-region. We are looking forward to going far in the playoffs.”
The Lady Leopards finished up the regular season with three strong wins.
Banks County defeated East Hall 4-1. Number one singles Kara Murphy paced the team going 6-0, 6-1, while number two singles Lezlee Bonnett had a tough loss going 1-6, 4-6 and number three singles Lauren Carter handily won 6-0, 6-0. At number one doubles, Taylor Seabolt and Anna Gailey won 6-2, 6-0 while Ashley O’Kelly and Haley Hill won cleanly 6-0, 6-0.
In the next match, Banks County girls defeated the Lady Panthers in the cross-over with Jackson County, 4-1.
Murphy won 6-0, 6-0; Bonnett won 8-7, 4-6, 7-6; Carter won 6-0, 6-0; Seabolt/Gailey lost 1-6, 0-6 and O’Kelley/Hill won 6-4, 6-3.
The Lady Leopards faced Dawson County and in a clean sweep put away the sub-region opponent 5-0.
Murphy went 6-0, 6-1; Bonnett went 6-2, 6-0; Carter went 6-0, 6-0; Seabolt/Gailey went 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 and O’Kelley/Hill secured the sweep 6-2, 6-4.
Both Banks County teams now get in final practice during the start of next week in preparation for the region tournament hosted by North Oconee next Thursday.
A rain date has also been posted if the region tournament is forced to be postponed, the games will be completed on Saturday, April 16.
The region tournament begins at 9 a.m. with the number three seed and the number two seed matches.
Number one singles Trey Martin won 6-0, 6-2 followed by number two singles Jake Schaefer won 6-1, 6-1. Number three singles Justin Yang played well against a tough opponent, but lost 3-6, 2-6. In doubles action number one team of Chase Minish and Viet Pham won by forfeit and number two team of Adam Hiten and Jacob Blalock won 6-1, 6-0.
The boys followed it up with a clean sweep over Fannin County the next match, 5-0.
Martin won 6-1,6-0; Schaefer won 6-3, 6-1; Yang won 6-3, 6-1; Minish/Pham win by forfeit and Hiten/Blalock win by forfeit.
Banks County proved to be on a strong run as the Leopards defeated East Hall 4-1. Martin defeated the Viking’s Dane Allen, who had only dropped four games up to that point.
Martin went 6-2, 7-6. Schaefer won 6-0, 6-2; Yang lost 5-7, 1-6; Minish/Pham won 6-1, 7-6 and Hiten/Blalock won 6-3, 1-6, 6-4.
The boys also defeated Jackson County in the cross-over match in a close 3-2 battle.
Martin handily won 6-0, 6-0; Schaefer won 6-2, 6-0; Yang lost after a hard battle 6-3, 5-7, 6-7; Minish/Pham fell in the tiebreaker 1-6, 7-2, 4-7 and Hiten/Blalock won 6-0, 6-3 to secure the match.
With the region tournament now a week away, this season marks the the tenth consecutive trip the Leopard netters have made into the region tourney.
The boys’ streak started after the 2001 season and coach Mike Ruth said that making it consecutively into the region tourney that many times is a “big accomplishment.” Ruth also said that for Banks County to have a consistent record of appearances is also a big deal considering the opponents the team has faced over the years.
“This is a big deal for tennis because not all the teams go to the region tournament,” Ruth said. “It is good for us to make it back to the state tournament as well.”
Since Banks County is the sub-region champions a trip into the state playoffs is guaranteed.
LADY LEOPARDS
The Lady Leopards are also headed to the region tournament undefeated in the sub-region.
Anna Gailey returns a shot during recent action. Justin Poole/staff
Coach Lisa Thomas said that the girls are looking forward to pushing deep into the playoffs.
“I want to thank the players, parents, and the school family for a great season,” she said. “With the regular season ending, the Banks County girls had a record of 8-10 overall and 4-0 in our sub-region. We are looking forward to going far in the playoffs.”
The Lady Leopards finished up the regular season with three strong wins.
Banks County defeated East Hall 4-1. Number one singles Kara Murphy paced the team going 6-0, 6-1, while number two singles Lezlee Bonnett had a tough loss going 1-6, 4-6 and number three singles Lauren Carter handily won 6-0, 6-0. At number one doubles, Taylor Seabolt and Anna Gailey won 6-2, 6-0 while Ashley O’Kelly and Haley Hill won cleanly 6-0, 6-0.
In the next match, Banks County girls defeated the Lady Panthers in the cross-over with Jackson County, 4-1.
Murphy won 6-0, 6-0; Bonnett won 8-7, 4-6, 7-6; Carter won 6-0, 6-0; Seabolt/Gailey lost 1-6, 0-6 and O’Kelley/Hill won 6-4, 6-3.
The Lady Leopards faced Dawson County and in a clean sweep put away the sub-region opponent 5-0.
Murphy went 6-0, 6-1; Bonnett went 6-2, 6-0; Carter went 6-0, 6-0; Seabolt/Gailey went 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 and O’Kelley/Hill secured the sweep 6-2, 6-4.
Both Banks County teams now get in final practice during the start of next week in preparation for the region tournament hosted by North Oconee next Thursday.
A rain date has also been posted if the region tournament is forced to be postponed, the games will be completed on Saturday, April 16.
The region tournament begins at 9 a.m. with the number three seed and the number two seed matches.
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