The Bainbridge High School Bearcat and Lady Cat tennis teams hosted Pike County in the first round of the State Tournament Tuesday afternoon. Both teams advanced to the second round after dominate performances.

“I think they all just did their job,” coach Amy Thomas said. “I think they are playing at a high level going into the state tournament. I’m proud of their accomplishments, but I’m more proud of the hard work they put in every day at practice.”

With all nine matches going on simultaneously the Lady Cats took an early lead when freshman Sydnee Burke made quick work of her opponent in number three singles, sweeping her opponent 6-0, 6-0.

“Sydnee Burke, as a freshman, to be the first one off the court─that says a lot,” Thomas said. “Then Taylor Greene to follow right behind her as a senior, it’s just evident that we’ve got a lot of promise coming up, but we also have a lot of leadership in our seniors.”

The girls clinched the match when the number two doubles duo of Chole and Bree Powell won their match 6-1, 6-1.

The Lady Cats’s number one doubles duo of Maci Barber and Jade Stacey won 6-2,6-2 after the team match had been decided. Pike County did win girls’ number two singles in a three set match.

The boys were equally dominant as they continued their hot streak by defeating Pike without losing a set. The Bearcats started the day only needing to win two matches to advance after Pike forfeited number three singles.

Jones Gossett was the first off the court with a 6-1, 6-0 victory in number two singles. Nour Hasona clinched the match with a 6-2, 6-2 victory in number one singles after he missed the Region Championship match with an illness.

“Extremely important,” Thomas said about Hasona returning. “He’s such a force as number one singles. He’s just as important as a key leader among the team. He motivates the guys and keeps them pumped up throughout the match. Him and Jones are kind of a duo there.”

The number one double duo of Bryce Howell and Mark Loeffler won 6-0, 6-2 and the number two doubles duo of Hudson Barber and Matthew Walker won 6-3, 6-1 to close out the 5-0 sweep for the Bearcats over Pike.

The second round of the state tournament has to be played before next Tuesday. The day and location will be determined based on the opponent.

“The next round is pretty hard,” Thomas said. “We are going to face some teams that have state championships under their belt. We’re just going to go in and play good clean tennis and hope for the best.”