The defending champs jumped out to early leads at the opening day of the State B-C tennis tournament in Missoula. But as the teams round the first corner, the rest of the field is following close behind.
The Townsend girls and Cut Bank boys each finished atop the leaderboard Thursday.
On the girls' side, Townsend finished with 14 points, while six other teams are within five of the Bulldogs. Baker enters the second day just one point back of the leaders, while Chinook is close behind with 12 points and Conrad (10), Darby (10), Fairfield (10) and Cut Bank (9) are all within striking distance.
The girls' competition is definitely still up for grabs heading into the second day, especially with eight different teams qualifying singles players for the quarterfinals.
One team that has a bit of an opening though is Chinook - the only school to have two doubles teams and a singles player in the quarters.
Patti Hellman and Kayla Dugan won two matches in the doubles draw to reserve the Sugarbeeters' first spot in the quarterfinals, while Chinook's top pair of Sarah Harshman and Kelsey Hansen won their lone match after a first-round bye to seal the team's second spot.
Baker and Townsend will look to stay above the rest of the competition with both of their top singles and doubles teams in the quarterfinals, while Fairfield is the only other team with both a singles player and doubles team in both events.
Baker will try to pass Townsend behind Keli Gentilini in the singles draw, while Kaileigh Morris and Jennifer Kary will try to bring in some more points in the doubles competition.
Townsend will try to maintain its lead behind the doubles team of Becky Moudree and Lindsey Little, while Gaelyn Domino will do work for the Bulldogs on the singles side.
“We've got to place at least two girls high,” said Townsend coach John O'Dell, who still has plenty of players in the consolation rounds to deliver points for his team. “We've done well with everybody winning matches so far. Hopefully a doubles team and a couple of singles players can at least place.”
On the boys' side, it should come as no surprise that Cut Bank is tops at this year's tournament after winning the past six championships. However, Valley Christian is taking some of the Wolves' attention after a solid opening day.
The two teams took control of the doubles competition in the afternoon, advancing both of their squads to the semifinals.
Likewise, in the singles competition, the two teams also advanced two players apiece to the quarterfinals. Loyola worked its way into the mix with a pair of singles players as well.
As the teams head into Friday's straightaway, Cut Bank head coach Jim Gregg is cautiously optimistic about his storied boys' team, while he's quick to point out just how tight the girls' competition is going to be.
“It's kind of wide open,” Gregg said. “The teams that have a little more of a chance are the ones that qualify more kids.
“It's just who gets the furthest so they get into the big points in the end. As far as surprises, I think the girls' is wide open.”
State B-C tennis tournament
at Missoula
Thursday results
BOYS
Team scores: Cut Bank 20, Valley Christian 19, Loyola 15, Conrad 11, St. Ignatius 4, Troy 3.
Singles
First round - Carl Matt, CB, def. Dylan McDowell, Loy, 6-2, 6-0; Calen King, Con, def. Spencer Ahlborn, SI, 6-2, 6-4; Reid Gage, CB, def. Jake Higgins, Tro, 6-4, 7-5; Nate Norberg, VC, def. Brandon Rebo, 6-1, 2-6, 6-3; Jaren VanDyke, Con, def. Nate Kavanagh, 2-6, 6-3, 6-0; Cade Cross, Loy, def. James Bollen, 6-2, 6-1.
Second round - Shane Kauffman, VC, def. Kurtis Janzen, con, 5-7, 6-1, 6-3; Matt, CB, def. Joe Day, Tro, 6-2, 6-0; William Gray, VC, def. King, Con, 6-2, 6-4; Dieziger, Loy, def. Gage, CB, 7-5, 6-2; Josh Paulson, CB, def. Steffen Somer, Con, 6-1, 6-2; Michael Breza, Loy, def. Norberg, VC, 6-1, 2-6, 6-3; VanDyke, Con, def. Matt Rogers, Tro, 6-3, 7-5; Wyatt McCollum, SI, def. Cros, Loy, 6-2, 6-2.
Doubles
First round - Gregg Kalbas, Garet Sullivan, Con, def. Morgan Parsons/Matthew Bohlken, 6-2, 6-0; Kyle Doyle/Dillon Linhart, Loy, def. Edward Gunawan/Xavier Streets, 7-5, 6-0; Spencer Lewis/Jace Kimmet, CB, def. Ty McCollom/Josh Bowers, 6-2, 6-0; Cody Parsons/Bo Sung Kim, VC, def. Rob Higgins/Michael Hirst, 6-4, 6-0.
Second round - Parsons/Bohlken, VC, def. Jesse Day/Shado Garrett, Tro, 6-2, 6-0; Steven Paulson/Jeremy Whelchel, CB, def. Doyle/Linhart, Loy, 7-5, 6-0; Lewis/Kimmett, CB, def. Paul Heffernan/Jonathan Finch, Loy, 3-6, 6-1, 6-1; Parsons/Kim, VC, def. Andy Springer/Dustin VandenBos, 6-4, 6-3.
GIRLS
Team scores: Townsend 14, Baker 13, Chinook 12, Conrad 10, Darby 10, Fairfield 10, Cut Bank 9, Superior 7, Eureka 6, Boulder 5, Chester/Joplin/Inverness 5, Choteau 4, Valley Christian 4, Wolf Point 4, Fort Benton 3, Whitehall 3, Loyola 1. Also participating Big Sandy, Forsyth and St. Ignatius.
Singles
First round - Kelis Gentilini, Bak, def. Miriam Bender, Dar, 6-3, 6-2; Kelsey Cronan, Whi, def. Emily Harshman, Chi, 4-6, 6-4, 7-5; Paige Allen, Fai, def. Casey Armstrong, Eur, 6-7, 7-2, 6-1; Michelle Hapakova, Sup, def. Kamiree Morris, Bak, 6-0, 6-4; Darbi Brady, Fai, def. Larissa Baird, Chi, 6-2, 6-3; Shelby Rogala, Dar, def. Faith Stapley, 6-0, 6-2; Tiffany Johnson, Bou, def. Cassie Toavs, WP, 6-0, 6-0; Molly Brown, CJI, def. Kelly Johns, 6-2, 6-1; Alyssa Brown, Chi, def. Kylee Peebles, Cho, 6-2, 6-3; Rebecca Havens, Bak, def. Briann Linnell, Eur, 6-0, 6-1; Gaelyn Domino, Tow, def. Ashley Gullo, Eur, 6-0, 6-1; Nicole Lucier, Sup, def. Morgan McDivitt, CB, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3; Hannah Honey, Dar, def. Michele Schahzenski, Whi, 6-2, 6-3; Kyndra Thompson, Tow, def. def. Jamie Ries, Con, 6-2, 1-6, 6-4; Martina Quade, Eur, def. Alex Conrow, Sup, 7-5, 6-1; Tabitha Brown, CJI, def. Shaleigh Straub, Bak, 6-4, 6-0.
Second round - Gentilini, Bak, def. Cronan, Whi, 4-6, 6-4, 7-5; Hapakova, Sup, def. Allaen Fai, 6-3, 6-1; Brady, Fai, def. Rogala, 6-1, 6-2; Johnson, Bou, def. Molly Brown, 6-3, 6-2; Alyssa Brown, Chi, def. Havens, 6-4, 6-3; Domino, Tow, def. Lucier, 5-7, 6-2, 6-2; Honey, Dar, def. Thompson, Tow, 6-1, 6-2; Quade, Eur, def. Tabitha Brown, 6-0, 6-1.
Doubles
First round - Callie Cooper/Marla Rice, CB, def. Katie Weldon/Meridy Preble, 6-0, 6-1; Patti Hellman/Kayla Dugan, Chi, def. Bridgette Woodbury/Austin Patritti, Whi, 6-2, 6-3; Anna Pearson/Katie Schlepp, Con, def. Christie Kostick/Ashley Peltier, Dar, 6-3, 6-3; Jacey Ritland/Tabitha Wilson, FB, def. Tara Duzan/Ande Hawkins, 6-1, 6-0; Natalie Krosch/Tara Sullivan, Dar, def. Megan Lundy/Casey Naeseth, FB, 6-3, 7-5; Kaileigh Morris/Jennifer Kary, Bak, def. Shayney Norick/Kylie Richter, CJI, 6-2, 6-1; Daneal Paddock/Taisha McWilliams, Fai, def. Ali Hege/Whitney Bennett, 6-1, 4-6, 7-5; Jess Sagissor/Jen Johnson, Tow, def. Kelsey Hadley/Jamie Nielsen, Bak, 6-3, 6-7(4-7) 6-3.
Second round - Bekah Truitt/Meaghan Moore, VC, def. Cooper/Rice, 6-3, 7-5; Hellman/Dugan, Chi, def. Sasha Trudeau/Magan Koshatka, Eur, 6-1, 6-0; Becky Moudree/Lindsey Little, Tow, def. Pearson/Schlepp, Con, 5-7, 6-3, 6-2; Heather Deady/Tressa Welch, WP, def. Ritland/Wilson, 6-2, 7-5; Laura Gregg/Danni Johnson, CB, def. Krosch/Sullivan, Dar, 6-1, 6-3; Morris/Kary, Bak, def. Jessica Craft/Kassy Kroll, 6-1, 6-0; Paddock/McWilliams, Fai, def. Taylor Holder/Marni Zauner, Eur, 6-0, 6-1; Sarah Harshman/Kelsey Hansen, Chi, def. Sagissor/Johnson, Tow, 7-5, 6-2.
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