Seymour picks up tourney victory

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The Seymour boys tennis team narrowly edged Jennings County in a 3-2 Hoosier Hills Conference Tournament victory Wednesday.

Up 2-1 in team scoring, the Owls No. 1 doubles team of Josiah Rudge and Grant Handloser clinched the victory by defeating Avery Johnson and Luke Ertel 1-6, 6-4, 7-6 (1) come-from-behind win.

“They couldn’t have started any slower — unfortunately that’s how it’s kind of been all year,” Owls coach Brad Emerson said. “It’s good they picked it up in the second and kept the momentum going into the tiebreaker. I’m really proud of their efforts.”

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Following a quick first-set loss, Rudge and Handloser built a 5-4 lead before winning the second set by breaking the Panthers’ serve.

Rudge and Handloser trailed 5-4 in the third set, but were able to overcome the gap and dominating the tiebreaker 7-1.

At No. 2 singles, the Owls’ Ty McCory defeated a tall, lanky opponent in Adam Jackson 6-3, 6-3.

Earlier in the season, Jackson bested McCory.

“Ty eliminated a lot of his mistakes,” Emerson said. “This time they played, he kept the ball in play better and the other guy made more mistakes. When (Jackson) made mistakes he got mad and Ty was able to keep his cool. He did a good job of holding serve when he needed to.”

Owls freshman Adam Berry dominated the No. 3 singles position, besting the Panthers’ Austin Mills 6-0, 6-0.

“Adam is just a nightmare for (Mills),” Emerson said. “He moved the ball well and did well putting his opponent away.”

The Panthers’ Bailey Wilder and Justin Gasper beat Sam Voss and Hao Li in a marathon match, 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 and Alex Berry lost to Owen Land 6-1, 6-3 at No. 1 singles.

The Owls, who picked up their fifth win on the season, will host fifth/sixth place match Friday to conclude HHC tournament play.

Emerson said he was pleased with the conference victory.

“We lost to them earlier in the season, so this is something that will hopefully carry over to (probably) Bedford on Friday,” Emerson said.

The Seymour Sectional draw will take place on Monday.

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