Despite trailing Kilgore 5-2 after doubles action on Tuesday, the Center High School tennis team came roaring back to capture eight of 12 singles' matches - including 5-of-6 in boys' play - to claim a 10-9 victory over the Bulldogs in Kilgore.
Center will return to action on Saturday when the Roughriders host Class 4A Jacksonville beginning at 9 a.m. at the CHS tennis courts.
The Roughriders were only able to record one of the boys' doubles and a mixed doubles match. Center's Wil McFarland and Ross Reynolds topped J.D. Perales and Bryan Heil, 6-3, 6-3, in No.3 doubles, while the Center duo of Seth Grant and Amber Noble blew past Sabrina Barnfield and Monte Broussard, 6-2, 6-0, in mixed play for the 'Riders' only wins early on.
In other boys' doubles action, Center's Jesse Campbell and Jacy Clark fell, 6-4, 6-7(10-7) in No.1 action and Wesley Howard and Mario Jimenez dropped a 6-3, 1-6(10-5) decision in the No.2 competition.
In the girls' doubles play, the CHS duo of Caroline Chadwick and Sara Harkness fell, 5-7, 6-3(10-6) in No.1 action; Emily Howard and Whitney Haddox lost, 6-1, 6-4, in No.2 girls' doubles; and Julie Wilkins and Ashton Lucas were edged, 6-4, 7-5, in No.3 play.
But the tide began to turn in singles action. In boys' play, Center's Seth Grant topped Jose Tapia, 8-5 in No.1 play; Wesley Howard downed Devon Tankersley, 8-1, in No.3; Jacy Clark rolled over Nathan Barnfield, 8-1, in No.4; Ross Reynolds took an 8-4 victory over Kilgore's Bryan Heil in No.5 action; and Center's Mario Jimenez recorded an 8-2 win over J.D. Perales in No.6 boys' singles.
Center's only setback in boys' singles was Jesse Campbell falling to Chance Osteen of Kilgore, 8-4, in No.2 play.
The Lady Riders also rolled to wins in No.1, No.2 and No.3 action. Amber Noble topped Naomi Warden, 8-5; Caroline Chadwick was an 8-5 winner over Zonera Javed in No.2; and Emily Howard blanked Monte Broussard, 8-0 in No.3 girls' singles to secure the team victory for CHS.
Center's No.4 singles' player Sara Harkness fell 8-3; Lady Rider Darby Hudspeth was clipped by Sabrina Barnfield, 8-4, in No.5 play; and Whitney Haddox of Center lost to Gayla Williams in a tough match, 9-7, in No. 6 action.