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JBS Tennis Team

The June Buchanan Crusaders and Lady Crusaders tennis squads, under the direction of Coaches Jeff Jacobs and Freddy Hunt, made history on Tuesday, May 3rd by sweeping the 14th Regional Tennis Tournament. The matches were held at the Knott County Schools Tennis Complex. The games were played until one team earned the necessary three total wins needed to declare a victor. This marked the first ever regional championship for the boys while the girls won for the first time since 2009.

The two JBS teams both earned the right to play in the championship by virtue of defeating the Lee County Bobcats in the semi-finals without dropping a match.

For the ladies, senior Megan Hall and eighth grader Riele Holbrook both earned convincing singles victories (6-0: 6-0) while junior Ruby Yeary and freshman Anika Thacker won the clinching 3rd match (6-2: 6-4) to send their squad to the finals.

 On the boy’s side, singles victories were earned by freshman Cage Watts (6-4:  6-0) and junior Griffith Fields (6-4: 6-2). Senior Daniel Snow and junior Trey Moore won the clinching third match (6-4: 6-4), advancing the club to the final round.

In the girl’s championship, the Lady Crusaders faced the Knott County Central Patriots. Eighth grader Hanna Hall and seventh grader Elisabeth Stepp got the club off to a good start with an impressive doubles victory (6-0: 6-2). Next, Yeary and Thacker kept the momentum rolling as they earned the second straight clutch victory in doubles play (6-3:  6-3).  Holbrook fought hard in her singles match, but fell (6-1, 6-3). It was left up to the senior Hall, who was on top of her game in her singles match clincher (6-3: 6-2). This third team victory earned the big trophy for her jubilant squad.

In boy’s action, JBS faced the Perry Central Commodores. Colton Jacobs delivered a much needed singles win in inspired fashion (6-1: 6-0) to start things off in the Crusaders favor. Next, Snow and Moore delivered the critical second match while displaying outstanding form, (6-2: 6-0). Conner Jacobs and Fields then battled tooth and nail in doubles play before falling (6-3: 6-1). Realizing that one victory was needed for the gold, Watts was rock solid as he earned the historic singles win (6-4: 6-0) to deliver the big trophy to his ecstatic teammates.

After the match, an elated Coach Jacobs stated, “We are so proud of both squads for earning solid victories in the team championships and earning a trip to the KHSAA State Tournament on May 14th in Lexington, Ky. I am especially happy for our two seniors, Megan and Daniel. They each earned victories in both rounds and displayed steady senior leadership. Our young players also stepped up in a big way and were really solid under pressure. It was definitely a total team effort.”