Muskogee High School’s Brandon Finerty stands in the shadows of two other top tennis players right now, but coach Rusty Bradley thinks it’s a shadow that he can step out of this spring.

He hopes that happens when he takes his 9-4 record to the home courts today in the Muskogee High School Invitational Tournament.

“You gear kids toward peaking at the state tournament and Brandon’s certainly going to continue to improve as the season goes on,” Bradley said. “But having said that, he’s certainly capable of doing great things this week.”

There’s a lot more of the Roughers’ junior for any shadow to cover, a point Bradley noted makes him a better player.

“Two years ago, I was 4-foot-9 and I’m 5-9 now. The last six months, I’ve probably taken on about 25 pounds, eating a lot of meats and working out with weights,” Finerty said.

Two of his losses are to Travis Fillmore of Tahlequah and another to Eric West of Union. Fillmore, a Class 5A finalist last year, and West are the top two players in 5A this season, just ahead of Finerty, and both seniors will be in this tournament.

“He played Fillmore a lot closer the second time (a 6-3, 6-4 loss in the Tahlequah tournament),” Bradley said. They’ll meet in the semifinals if they can get there.”

“I just need to keep a positive outlook about it. I know I’m close enough to beating him that it can go either way, depending on who is on their game the most,” Finerty said.

Finerty and other singles entries will begin play at 8 a.m. at the MHS courts. No. 1 doubles will be at Honor Heights Park and Muskogee Country Club. The No. 2 doubles will play at Spaulding Park.

Aaron Echols (10-6), a freshman in No. 2 singles, gives the Roughers another hope of a title this weekend.

“There’s been times when I didn’t think he’d win and he proved me wrong. He’s young but he’s had an outstanding year,” Bradley said.

Harrison Gaston, the team’s only senior, pairs with Alex Coburn in No. 1 doubles. They are 4-9 this season against high-quality competition. Russ Bradley and Cole Fite, sophomores like Coburn, will team up at No. 2 doubles, where they are 6-3.

The girls portion of the tournament is Saturday. Muskogee’s best hopes of placing is in No. 1 doubles with Bailey Ewing and Jordan Weibe and No. 2 doubles with Tori Gilmartin, Catherine Biep.

“They’re probably both middle of the draw, not the best, but if you look at our roster we’ve only got one senior in Gilmartin. We’re improving,” MHS girls coach Clay Blevins said.