Falcons have a ball

Star Beacon

April 18, 2008 01:54 am

— JEFFERSON — It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood, at least at the Jefferson High School tennis courts Thursday. The Falcons took full advantage of it.
Coach Lou Murphy’s team has been riding a wave of momentum in the last week. On the best day of the spring so far, that wave carried Jefferson to a 5-0 victory over Edgewood in Northeastern Conference action.
The Falcons (4-4, 3-1) were quite efficient in their victory. They lost just four games through the first four matches before the second-doubles team of Seth Perry and Chris Gray outlasted Edgewood’s Bill Higley and Eric Meier, 6-0, 4-6, 6-2.
“It was just a beautiful day all the way around,” Murphy said. “I actually had to wear sunglasses today. The kids were loving it.”
Actually, the Falcons made a full day of it. Murphy was loved every minute of it, even if it meant and an early rising.
“They got me up at 6 a.m. and we went out to breakfast as a team,” he said. “The kids have been in real good spirits lately, so I knew it was going to be a good day.”
His feelings were correct. Mike Harden got the Falcons off to a flying start with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Zach Dawson at first singles. He was followed by Greg Buchan, who produced a 6-0, 6-1 win over Doug Cerveny at second singles. Rainey Fleming actually clinched the match with a 6-0, 6-0 win over David Incorvati.
“All the boys have been playing great,” Murphy said. “I’ve tried a lot of different lineups and every time I’ve done it, the kids just seem to adjust well.
“I think all the boys have been playing well, especially Mike Harden. He took a kid from Lakeview that ate him up last year and beat him 6-0, 6-0, the other day.”
Tyler Thaxton and Duncan Treen followed suit at first doubles with a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Phil Holden and John Ringer before Gray and Perry completed the sweep.
The day of good vibes wasn’t over after the match, either.
“After the match was over, I was picking up all the stuff and the boys were still out on the court,” Murphy said. “I told them I was going in and they stayed out there and played hand tennis after I left.”
Murphy hopes the good vibrations carry over into Saturday’s Northeastern Conference Tournament at Geneva, which begins at 8:30 a.m.
“We’ve got a little bit of momentum now,” he said. “I know Geneva is undefeated, but we’re going to go in there and give it our best shot.”
— Karl Pearson

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