George Ferguson
Havre Daily News Sports
gferguson@havredailynews.com
Another year, another postseason win for the Fort Benton Longhorns girls tennis team. Saturday the Longhorns edged both Chinook and Chester to capture the Northeast B-C divisional tennis championship at the Bill Vaughey Memorial Tennis Courts in Havre.
The Longhorns used a dominant showing in the doubles portion of the tournament to score 31 points. It was just enough to hold off the Chinook Sugarbeeters, who scored 29 points. Chester finished a close third with 20 points.
While Fort Benton's doubles teams of Rachel Pottenger and Carolyn Spaubach and Brittney Londee and Lindsey Wellman finished first and second in doubles, they also got help from singles players Jenna Witt, who finished fourth, and Jennifer Jones, who finished sixth.
The Beeters were paced by Monica Thackeray, who captured the singles crown with a 6-4, 6-0 win over Chester's Mary DeVries.
Chinook will also have Gen Burkhartsmeyer at the state tournament, as she finished in third place, defeating the aforementioned Witt, 6-3, 6-3 in the consolation final. Chester also got Amanda Violet to state. She defeated Fort Benton's Jennifer Jones, 6-3, 6-1 for fifth place.
The Beeters second-place cause was also helped out by the third-place finish of doubles team Morgan Obie and Georgia Barber. Chinook's top doubles tandem defeated Chester's Sierra Pimley and Allison Huhtala in three sets, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 for third place. Both teams will also be making the trek to the state tournament.
Northeast B Tennis
at Havre
Team Scores
Fort Benton 31, Chinook 29, Chester 20, Big Sandy 0
Singles
Championship
Monica Thackeray, Chinook, def. Mary DeVries, Chester, 6-4, 6-0
Third place
Gen Burkhartsmeyer, Chinook, def. Jenna Witt, Fort Benton, 6-3, 6-3
Fifth place
Amanda Violett, Chester, def. Jennifer Jones, Fort Benton, 6-3, 6-1
Doubles
Championship
Rachel Pottenger-Carolan Spaubach, Fort Benton, def. Brittney Londee-Lindsay Wellman, Fort Benton, 6-4, 6-3
Third place
Morgan Obie-Georgia Barber, Chinook, def. Sierra Pimley-Allison Huhtala, Chester, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3
