Chinook finishes fourth in B-C tennis

The Chinook Sugarbeeters came to the Class B-C state tennis tournament as the defending girls champions. Unfortunately, graduation can hamper a team's chances for a repeat.

Chinook lost several key seniors off of last year's state title team, and the Beeters, while still a B-C power, just didn't have the depth to keep pace at the 2011 B-C state tournament this past weekend in Missoula.

Chinook scored 16 points to finish in a tie for fourth place with Conrad and Fort Benton. Cut Bank, coached by veteran Jim Gregg earned its first-ever girls state championship by scoring 45 points. The Wolves had a repeat singles state champion in Morgan McDivitt, while also getting a second and a fourth in doubles. Fairfield finished third.

Chinook still had a good meet to finish fourth, as the doubles teams of Taryn Norby and Katie Diemert and Savanna Smith and Haley Swank all scored points for the Beeters. Chinook also got mileage out of its young singles players, but the Beeters were not able to advance any players past the consolation semifinal round.

The Hi-Line was also represented by the Chester/J-I Hawks, who scored six points and finished in a tie for 11th place.

Valley Christian of Missoula romped to the boys title by scoring 44 points, while Bigfork was second with 40.

State B-C tennis

Saturday

At Lindsay Tennis Center

GIRLS

Final team scores: Cut Bank 45, Superior-Alberton 34, Fairfield 23, Chinook, Conrad and Fort Benton 16, Townsend 15, Baker 14, Loyola Sacred Heart 13, St. Ignatius 8, Bigfork and Chester/J-I 6, Wolf Point 5, Boulder 4, Darby 1, Eureka, Troy, Valley Christian, Big Sandy, Choteau, Forsyth, Whitehall 0.

Singles

Final

Morgan McDivitt, CB, def. Emma Wooldridge, SA, 6-4, 6-3.

Third place

Kristine Warlick, Con, def. Cary Chamberlain, SA, 6-3, 6-0.

Doubles

Final

Serina Hoyt/Lexi Bremer, Fai, def. Brianna Bauer/Jillian Altenberg, CB, 6-2, 6-4.

Third place

Brooke Sauro/Becca Nielsen, Loy, def. Taylor Harvie/Kayla Kraft, CB, 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-4.