Beeters roll at Northern B-C tennis tourney

The Chinook Sugarbeeters have been liking hosting the Northern B-C girls divisional tennis tournament for years now. And last weekend, the Beeters were at it again.

Head coach Thom MacLean's Beeters topped the divisional tournament held here Friday-Saturday at the Bill Vaughey Memorial Tennis Courts. Fort Benton was second and Chester/J-I was third.

Chinook's Alana Smith hits a forehand during Northern B-C girls tennis action Saturday at the Bill Vaughey Memorial Tennis Courts in Havre.

Chinook, which won the Class B-C state girls championship several years ago, and has placed at state in each of the last four seasons, pushed six girls through to this week's B-C state tournament.

The Beeters got a divisional doubles title from the team of Alana Smith and Mariah Swank, who defeated the top duo from Fort Benton, 6-4, 6-2 in the title match Saturday. The Beeter duo of Ashton Nideregger and Stella Rigg are also headed to state after defeating Chester/J-I's Madeline Woods and Haley Erickson in the doubles consolation final.

In singles, Kiana Burkhartsmeyer fell to Fort Benton's Leandra Marais 6-4, 6-2 in the championship match, while Brooke Nicholson beat Fort Benton's Jacey Giles in the consolation final. C/J-I's Susanne Stewart also finished fifth in singles and will be headed to the state tournament as well.

Chester/J-I's Madeline Woods hits a serve during a girls doubles match the Northern B-C Divisional tennis tournament Saturday morning in Havre.

The Class B-C state tournament begins at several locations around Missoula on Thursday morning.

Northern B-C Girls

Girls' singles (top five to state)

Championship: Leandra Marais (FB) def. Kiana Burkhartsmeyer (CHI) 6-4, 6-2

Third place: Brooke Nicholson (CHI) def. Jacey Giles (FB) 6-1, 6-2

Fifth place: Susanne Stewart (CJI) def. Madison Schumaher (FB) 6-0, 6-0

Semifinals: Marais def. Nicholson 6-1, 6-1; Burkhartsmeyer def. Stewart

Girls' doubles (top four to state)

Championship: Alana Smith/Mariah Swank (CHI) def. Miranda Woodhouse/Kinsey Claassen (FB) 6-3, 6-3

Third place: Ashton Niederegger/Stella Rigg (CHI) def. Haley Erickson/Madeline Woods (CJI) 6-3, 6-1

Semifinals: Smith/Swank def. Erickson/Woods 6-4, 6-4; Classen/Woodhouse def. Niedereggar/Rigg 6-1, 6-2.