Newton County’s streak of Class 4A championship appearances almost came to an end last week.
The Cougars had to battle a veteran Vancleave squad but eventually took a 4-3 win to take a first-round win on Thursday.
“It was really tight,” Newton County coach Chad Bond said. “They had veteran players at every position. They were older than us at almost every position.”
Newton County is now 12-8 on the season and advances to the second round of the playoffs and will face the winner of Lawrence County and McComb on Thursday on the road.
Newton County also had won Division 5-4A championships in boys and girls doubles, boys singles and mixed doubles and all four of those positions will advance to the Class 4A state tournament in Oxford.
County 4, Vancleave 3
The Cougars had a battle in the first round of the Class 4A South State playoffs as they took a one-point win over Vancleave on Thursday.
Vancleave took both singles points as Cole Tadlock lost 6-2, 6-3 at boys singles and Ava Espey lost 6-0, 6-0 at girls singles.
In doubles, Daylon Nance and Lee Hill won 6-1, 6-1 at No. 1 boys doubles while Tate Baucum and Keenan Selman lost 4-6, 7-5, 10-7 at the No. 2 spot.
Newton County won both girls doubles points as Kamryn Rodriguez and Lauren Addy won 6-2, 6-4 at the No. 1 spot while Marilyn Tullos and Brenah Flint won 6-1, 6-0 at the No. 2 spot.
Parker Chaney and Emily Stewart took a 6-2, 6-3 win in mixed doubles to bring home the win for Newton County.
Division 5-4A Tournament
Newton County had four spots that will advance to the Class 4A state tournament in Oxford after winning their position in the Division 5-4A Tournament last week.
In boys singles, Tate Baucum cruised to the win as he beat Northeast Lauderdale 6-1, 6-0 in the first round and Northeast Jones 6-0, 6-1 in the finals.
In boys doubles, Daylon Nance and Lee Hill took the victory, winning three matches. Nance and Hill beat Northeast Jones 6-0, 6-0 in the quarterfinals and then hammered West Lauderdale 6-2, 6-0 in the semifinals. Nance and Hill beat Brooks Hull and Jack Green of West Lauderdale 6-2, 6-1 in the finals. Cole Tadlock and Keenan Selman won 6-3, 6-3 in the quarterfinals but lost 6-, 6-0 to Hull and Green from West Lauderdale in the semifinals.
In girls doubles, Kamryn Rodriguez and Lauren Addy also won three matches to the take the title. They beat Northeast Jones, 6-1, 6-0 I the quarterfinals and West Lauderdale 6-2, 6-3 in the semifinals. Rodriguez and Addy beat Caroline Green and Alice Williamson 7-6(4), 6-3 in the finals. County’s Brenah Flint and Josie Tullos beat Quitman 6-0, 6-1 in the quarterfinals but lost to Green and Williamson 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in the semifinals.
In mixed doubles, Parker Chaney and Emily Stewart cruised to the title as they beat Northeast Lauderdale 6-1, 6-0 in the semifinals and then beat West Lauderdale 6-0, 6-2 in the finals.
In girls singles, Ava Espey lost to Quitman 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the semifinals.
