MHS qualifies everyone with second-place regional finish

Phoenix staff report

Fri, May 16 2008

— TULSA — It’s the kind of complete trip MHS tennis coach Rusty Bradley hopes for every year.
But for the first time in three seasons, Bradley’s Rougher tennis team will pack both their rackets and their spectator shades as all will do a little bit of both — or a lot of one — at the Class 5A tennis tournament that starts Thursday thanks to Monday’s regional effort at Shadow Mountain Racquet Club.
As expected, Micah Lemoine in No. 1 singles and Brandon Finerty in No. 2 singles both cashed their state tournament ticket. Both made their way to the championship matches in whopping fashion, winning both preliminary matches by 6-0, 6-0 counts. Finerty’s good fortune ran out against the state’s No. 1-ranked player in Eric West of Tulsa Union as he lost 6-3, 6-3. Same thing for Finerty, who lost to Union’s Harry Warden 6-2, 6-3. Both Union players were also top seeds in this region.
“Realistically both will be the No 1 seeds in the state. Sadly we had to meet them at region and that’s fine though. We want our big performances at state.”
Those performances will include both of Muskogee’s doubles pairs. Aaron Eckels and Harrison Gaston at No. 1 doubles lost to Edmond Santa Fe 6-0, 6-3 but got fourth place.
At No. 2 doubles, Russ Bradley, the coach’s son, and Cole Fite took third, beating Owasso 6-3, 6-4. One of their losses was to the eventual champions from Owasso in a 6-3, 6-4 match.
But what impressed their coach was their starts. Both Roughers pairs won hard-fought three-set matches to begin the day. Eckels/Fite beat Sand Springs 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 and Bradley/Fite knocked off a pair from Choctaw 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
“That first match is such a key motivational thing because it’s a longer climb back from that if you lose,” Rusty Bradley said. “I was impressed with both and perhaps more so surprised by our No. 1 doubles. They had their work cut out for them and had to have a key draw, which they got, and a key win, and that happened.
“I’m just happy that everybody’s going to play Thursday. It’s a whole lot more fun for every one to get to go play and support each other instead of some playing and others just going for support.”
MHS was second as Union won the meet.
Muskogee leaves Thursday and play begins at state on Friday at the Oklahoma City Tennis Center.

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