Local netters headed to state

For a time, it looked like the Chinook Sugarbeeters had a battle on their hands at last week's Northeast B-C girls divisional tennis tournament. But in the end, the Beeters were just too strong.

The tournament was held last Thursday and Friday in Havre, and Chinook once again came out on top, scoring 42 points, and sweeping the singles and doubles titles. Chester-Joplin-Inverness put up a strong fight though, scoring 20 points, while the upstart Harlem Wildcats were third with 26 points.

In doubles, the duo of Sierra Swank and Megan Pruttis proved they are state title contenders as they beat Jerika Tempel and Brooke Woods in the championship match, 6-3, 6-4. Meanwhile, in singles, Chinook took two of the top three spots, as Jamie Roth captured the divisional title with a 6-0, 7-6 (5) win over CJI's Kendahl Knapton. Nicole McCracken also punched her ticket to state with a victory over Taeshon Schaeffer of Harlem in the consolation match.

"She has been our 'steady eddie' all year long," Chinook head coach Thom MacLean said of Roth. "She's always very consistent and works really hard.

"I was impressed with Swank and Pruttis in the finals," he added of the doubles. "Tempel and Woods are seniors who have been playing together for years. They're skilled and aggressive so I was happy that Sierra and Megan could play well and pull out a win."

CJI had a strong showing, but so, too, did Harlem, which has been playing high school tennis for just a short time. The doubles team of Jazzamyn Benson and Kinsey Cornell placed third Friday to reach the state tournament, joining Scaeffer, who made it in singles. The three are the first Wildcats to reach the B-C state tourney.

And that state tournament, where Chinook will be the three-time defending B-C champions, starts Thursday and runs through Saturday in Missoula.