By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – On the day Dolly Parton’s musical voice was forever silenced, Jennings County punched the time clock a little longer than 9-to-5 for a hard-working victory.
The Panthers logged a lot of overtime, winning a pair of three-set battles (after dropping the first set in both swing matches) en route to a tough 3-2 win over Bedford North Lawrence on Tuesday afternoon. What a way to make a living, the Panthers did a lot of taking and not much giving.
With key turnaround wins at No.2 singles and No.2 doubles, Jennings ended BNL’s modest three-match winning streak. That would drive the Stars crazy if they let it.
”Bad loss tonight,” BNL coach Ian Dillman said. “I can’t say I’m happy with it, but it’s humbling.”
At No.2 singles, Jennings’ Asher Morin recovered from a tense first set to log a 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 win over Aden Ralston. At No.2 doubles, Xander Sedam and Henry Asbury pulled out a deciding third-set tiebreaker to top BNL’s Cruz Gomez and Riley Pruett 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3).
“They had long, hard-fought matches,” Dillman said. “There was just too many errors from us that cost us on some crucial points. It stung and it showed. Our plague was our footwork and groundstrokes. We cannot afford to give up points due to these things. We need to have that mentality of ‘one more ball.’”
Jennings also claimed No.1 singles as Luke Napier topped Laedon Jones 6-0, 6-0.
The Stars were triumphant at No.1 doubles as Jackson Corey and Asher Thompson cruised to a 6-0, 6-2 win over Charlie Treadway and Addex Belding. BNL freshman Levi Thompson continued his solid play with a three-set victory over Colten Short, rallying for a 3-6, 7-6 (9-7), 6-3 win at No.3 singles.
“Jackson and Asher were great from start to finish,” Dillman said. “I loved what I saw and they helped set the tone.
”Facing Jennings was a great way to get a picture of how the sectional and conference will play out. There are great players in the Hoosier Hills Conference, and BNL is ready for them.”
BNL (4-2) will host Brown County on Thursday.
Jennings County 3, BNL 2
Singles
1 Luke Napier, JC D. Laedon Jones 6-0, 6-0
2 Asher Morin, JC d. Aden Ralston 4-6, 6-1, 6-4
3 Levi Thompson, BNL d. Colten Short 3-6, 7-6 (9-7), 6-3
Doubles
1 Jackson Corey and Asher Thompson, BNL d. Charlie Treadway and Addex Belding 6-0, 6-2
2 Xander Sedam and Henry Asbury, JC d. Cruz Gomez and Riley Pruett 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3)
