Flashes tennis team goes deep in playoffs

Back row: Kelly Alyss Spradley, Anna Graham, Tara Squires, Coach Paige Gaster, Caroline Cockfield, Sabrina Nesmith, and Madison Capps. Second row: Tanner Martin, Helen Zhen, Lauren Miller, Rachel Gaster, Macy Hanna, and Tyler Owens. Front row: Kayla Ho, Ranesha Stuckey and Kalyn Squires.

By: CONTRIBUTED | SCNow
Published: November 26, 2008

JOHNSONVILLE - The 2008 Lady Flashes Tennis Team finished the season as Lower State Runners Up after falling to Green Sea – Floyds (1-5). The Flashes’ November 7th trip to Lexington was not what they had hoped for, although Rachel Gaster was successful in her number one seed win against Caitlin Tiller (GSF) (6-3, 6-2).
Tie breakers have been a huge obstacle for the Lady Flashes this season. To fully appreciate the effort involved in being in a tie break, one must understand the new scoring system that is in place now. High School League rules state the first player to reach 4 points wins a game. A player must beat an opponent by 2 games to win a set. If a set score ends up 6-6, a 7-point tie break must take place to determine the set. If players split sets, then a ten-point tie break will decide the overall match for those players. Tie break matches can last anywhere from 2-3 hours because they must have a 2 point difference.
Coaches are no longer allowed to coach during these tie breaks so the girls are on their own. In their match against Waccamaw, they encountered five tie breaks simultaneously and in both regular season matches against the Trojans.
The trip to Lower State proved to be no different. Kalyn Squires, Anna Graham, and Madison Capps each faced the dreaded tie break to decide their respective matches. After tedious points, the girls were unfortunately unsuccessful. A team has to win 4 out of 7 matches to win. That is why tie breaks are so crucial in a match. The girls worked extremely hard this season and we got one step closer than we did last year.
Runners up in 2005 and Lower State Champs in 2006, Coach Paige Gaster and her team will be working extra hard to be in contention for a 2009 State title as they rebuild after losing seniors Caroline Cockfield #2 seed, Kalyn Squires #3, Anna Graham #4, and Tara Squires #6. Gaster really wanted the title for her seniors, however, Cockfield and Kalyn Squires got to experience a first only Lower State Title for Johnsonville High School in 2006.

Flashes tennis team goes deep in playoffs

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