Benton tennis suffers 1st loss of year
BEEBE — The Benton tennis team played in a trimatch this past Thursday with Maumelle and Beebe in 5A Central Conference play on the road. With Maumelle just creating their team last week, the Benton junior varsity players competed against the Hornets and took a 7-1 victory. Against Beebe, though, Benton suffered its first team loss of the season, dropping a 5-3 decision.
It didn’t help Benton as the squad was without four players due to possible COVID-19 exposure, including the Lady Panthers top two singles players.
Though it was Benton’s first loss, both the Panthers and Lady Panthers No. 1 doubles squads remained undefeated on the season.
The Panther duo of senior Nathan Williams and junior Luke Pelton stayed perfect getting past Beebe’s L. Babel and L. Young on Thursday,
taking an 8-6 decision, while Benton junior Eli Rose and senior Logan Davis dropped an 8-6 match to A. Chapman and B. Mcmullen.
In boys singles, sophomore Blake Covert defeated Badger Will Rudd 8-5, with Panther junior Marcelles Nash falling 8-1 to JD Martin.
In girls doubles action, senior Alyssa Carter and freshman Lily Jessen also remained undefeated, edging past Beebe’s M. Paul and G. Jones 8-7. Benton seniors Shealyn Horton and Allison Hall would drop a close one, 8-6, to C. Flenor and G. Lindsey.
In girls singles, Benton senior Erin Welch fell 8-0 to R. Martin.
Against Maumelle, Covert picked up another singles win, 6-0, over J. Mcknight, while senior Hank Hertzfeld lost a close one, 8-6, to C. Booth.
Williams and Pelton won another doubles match as well, defeating Hornets J. Fredenburg and K. Putnam.
In girls singles action against Maumelle, sophomore Maddie-kate Shelton swept C. Joyner 6-0, while Benton senior Allison Mcmillan also took a 6-0 victory over H. Davis.
In girls doubles, Lady Panther sophomore Emma Young and freshman Ruby Medders downed K. Putnam and Q. Taylor 6-1.
Benton has one more conference match left, taking on Little Rock Christian Monday. The 5A Central Conference Tournament will be on Oct. 5-6 at Chenal Country Club in Little Rock.