Canyon and Randall team tennis move on with playoff wins

District 5-4A continues to show just how tough it is as No. 2 Randall and No. 3 Canyon both advanced to the Region I-4A tournament set to be held at the Rose Park Tennis Center in Abilene on Thursday and Friday.

Both squads are on a collision course to meet in the finals where Canyon will be looking to get its first team win over Randall this season.

Facing a talented Burkburnett team in the regional quarterfinals in Lubbock on Tuesday, Canyon’s tennis squad knew they had their hands full.

The No. 16-ranked Bulldogs were led by Caden Coker and Owen Ruiz who won the boys doubles title last spring.

On the strength of their girls play and their number five and six boys, the Eagles pulled off a 10-7-win were able to come away with a 10-7 victory.

Canyon found itself up 4-3 after the double’s competition winning all three girls matches and only dropping five games total and getting a key win in number three doubles from sophomore Kale Morton and senior Joseph Peak in a super tiebreaker.

With a narrow lead in hand, the Eagles saw their number five boys singles player, Carter Neighbors, and number six, Sam Chettinger pull out easy wins only losing one game each.

On the girl’s side, Lauren Brooks, Hannah Terry and Kaylee Melear each cruised to straight set wins with freshman Johnna Finke wrapping up the win with a hard fought 6-4, 6-2 win.

The Eagles next face Seminole, who took a 10-2 win over Fort Stockton Monday in Monahans. The Indians will be the fourth straight ranked opponent they will see in the playoffs, coming in ranked No. 23.

The Randall tennis team is looking to make their third straight trip to the UIL Class 4A state tournament after claiming gold in 2022 and falling last year in the state semifinals.

The Raiders took down No. 14 Vernon on Tuesday morning in Plainview with solid singles play performance to run away with a 10-4 win.

Like Canyon, Randall was up 4-3 after doubles play on the strength of all three girls doubles teams getting wins in convincing fashion.  That made the number two boys doubles win from Jensen Betzen and Sawyer Eason pivotal as they pulled off a straight set, 6-2, 7-6 win.

Randall’s netters then took six of the seven matches in singles to close this one out.

Senior Dax Betzen and freshman Jensen Betzen picked up straight set wins on the boys’ side while Gabby Dishong, Kynley Craddock, Emmalee Silivent and Lily Harding cruised on the girls’ side winning the top four matches for the Raiders.

Next up for Randall will be Shallowater as the Mustangs squad won a tight match over Andrews, 10-8, Monday in Brownfield.

Amarillo High was also playing in the Class 5A regional quarterfinals on Tuesday in Lubbock.

The No. 6-ranked Sandies didn’t have the same fate as both Canyon and Randall falling to No. 5 Abilene Wylie 10-6 to end another superb season.