Harker Heights felt right at home –– literally –– while Chaparral stepped into uncharted territory as the two Killeen ISD team tennis squads laced up their sneakers and gripped their rackets for first-round playoff matches Tuesday.
Guided by head coach Mark Drake, the Knights were in the fall postseason for the seventh time in Drake’s nine seasons in charge. The Bobcats, meanwhile, made their team tennis playoff debut in Year 4 as a program.
No matter the scenario, advancing out of league play is a thrilling experience, and both squads relished the opportunity to extend their season.
And for the Knights, they still have even more tennis to play.
Harker Heights dispatched visiting Duncanville, 14-5, to bag their second consecutive Class 6A bi-district title. The convincing victory set up an area-round match Thursday against Wylie.
“I am really proud of our players and ecstatic to be bi-district champions two years in a row,” Drake said, adding that consistency is key to the program’s success.
“Coaching consistency leads to player consistency,” he said. “The older players know the routine and expectations, and they pass it down to the younger players.”
The Knights secured the second seed from District 12-6A with a win over Temple in their league finale, and, as the temperature rose Tuesday they surged past the Panthers for the bi-district crown.
Ikem Eneli, Myck Tiglao, Xavier Tilmon and William Pierce registered points for Heights in boys singles, and Payton Minnie, Aashia Patel, Leilani Coulston, Payton Thomas and Soo Ann Lee did the same in girls singles.
Going into the singles matches, the Knights built a 5-2 lead over Duncanville with boys doubles wins from Eneli-Tigalo, Tilmon-Turner, Pierce-Soo Inn Lee, Thomas-Minnie and Walker-Soo Ann Lee.
More photos: https://tinyurl.com/522d7d9y
The Bobcats, who finished third in District 16-5A and endured a midseason coaching change, battled Midlothian in a 5A bi-district encounter at Robinson High School on Tuesday morning and saw its memorable campaign come to an end.
“I’m incredibly proud of how this group has grown this season. They stayed positive through the ups and downs and bought into working together as a program,” said Jessica Harborth, Chaparral’s campus assistant coordinator for girls athletics, softball head coach and interim tennis coach. “Our senior leaders set the tone and the rest of the team followed, whether it was focusing on specific skills, pushing each other in match-play drills, or just showing up ready to work hard every day. It’s been rewarding to see their hard work and belief in one another pay off.”