PARSONS — In a field that included two of the topthree teams at state a year ago, the Chanute Blue Comets placed third in Thursday’s SEK League Championships as the boys tennis postseason commenced.
Parsons took the league title by scoring 51 of a possible 52 points. Independence finished runner-up with 41 points, followed by Chanute (33), Fort Scott (29), Coffeyville (16), Pittsburg (11) and Labette County (3).
Chanute’s Ayden Cummings and Ethan Burnett were the highest placers, finishing fourth in the doubles bracket.
The Blue Comets’ top duo easily dispatched Labette County, 8-0, in the first round before taking down Independence, 6-2, 6-2, in the quarterfinals.
In the semifinals, Burnett and Cummings lost a thrilling, three-set marathon to eventual doubles champions Conner Barcus and Cole Kennett of Parsons, 6-7 (13-11), 6-2, 7-5.
In the third-place match, Burnett and Cummings lost to Independence’s top pairing, 8-7 (7-4), 7-5.
Chanute’s other doubles pair of Luke Becknell and Logan Bilby finished in sixth place. The two defeated Pittsburg, 8-1, before losing to eventual runner-up Davion Holman and Mason Morris of Parsons, 6-1, 6-1, in the quarterfinals.
In the backdraw, Becknell and Bilby beat Fort Scott, 8-1, before losing to Independence in the fifth-place match, 8-0.
Arthur Schmitt finished sixth in the singles draw for Chanute with two wins and two losses. Kemper Manly finished in seventh place, also going 2-2.
Up next
The KSHSAA 4A Regional tournament on Friday is essentially a run-back of the league tournament, with Class 5A Pittsburg exchanged for Iola. Parsons will again play host. The top six singles and doubles finishers earn bids to the state tournament.
