The O’Neal girls’ tennis team hung on for a 5-4 win over in-county rival Pinecrest in a four-hour match that was highlighted a battle between the team’s No. 1 singles players.

O’Neal’s Grayson Keel prevailed over Caroline Decker, Pinecrest’s No. 1 singles player, in a 6-1, 7-6 match that saw intense rallies and rapid serves.

“The wonderful thing about this match is that these two girls are best friends and their match ended with a huge hug,” said Falcon coach Carl Bryan. “When girls can compete at this level and subsequently leave the court hand in hand, that sends a wonderful message of being competitive but having perspective.”

In the No. 2 singles match, Pinecrest’s Chrissie Nurnberg defeated Maggie Hakas by 6-3, 6-2 scores.  The Falcons swept the four remaining singles matches. Emma Gentry defeated Karen Smith in straight sets at No. 3, Sophia Renner defeated Paige Summer 6-3, 6-0 at No. 4, and Kennon Later defeated Piper Davis 7-6, 6-4 at No. 5.

Dana Averbook gave the Falcons a 5-1 lead when she defeated Brittany Jenkins 6-0, 6-3 in the No. 6 slot.

The Patriots outlasted O’Neal in all three doubles matches. The highlight of the doubles competition came at No. 1 where the Decker and Nurnberg combined to defeat Keel and E.G. Landry in a match that was decided in the Patriots favor in a hard-fought tiebreaker.

Weiss Leads Patriots in Golf

Junior Gabby Weiss shot a 4-under-par 68 at Pinehurst No. 5 Monday afternoon to lead the Pinecrest girls in their opening Southeastern Conference golf match of the season.

The Patriot team score of 315 also included a 79 by Savannah Thompson and a pair of 84s by Chrissy Boals and Catherine Cirigliano. Haley Robinson contributed an 87 on her birthday. Shayla Birath and Elaine Kearney also played for the Patriots, and co-captain Hailey Crider was on the course supporting the team.

Megan Munroe of Hoke County posted a 79. Scotland High finished second with a team score of 368, followed by Purnell Swett, 414, Hoke, 427 and Richmond Senior, 467. Lumberton did not have enough players to post a team score.

The Patriots return to action in league play at Bayonet Country Club in Raeford on Monday.

Vike Girls Sweep in Tennis

Union Pines pulled off an unusual doubleheader sweep Wednesday against visiting conference foe Douglas Byrd in girls’ tennis.

The Vikings collected 9-0 and 6-0 wins over the visitors, running their overall mark to 10-0 and 7-0 in the Cape Fear Valley Conference. Union Pines did not lose a game in the 15 eight-game pro sets played in the two matches.

Laura Cameron picked up two wins in singles, moving to 90-17 in her career at Union Pines and No. 31 on the school’s career win list. Maddie Walden got a singles win, improving her career mark to 25-8, while Maudie Chalflinch teamed with Meagan Pusser to get a win in doubles, her first win as a Viking.

Union Pines returns to conference action Monday when it entertains Overhills.

Union Pines 9 Douglas Byrd 0

Singles — Mary Beth Jackson (UP) defeated Jazmin Orse 8-0; Melissa Tally (UP) def. Judy Song 8-0; Laura Cameron (UP) def. Tasheka Robinson 8-0; Elena D’Argenio (UP) def. Aniyah McKethen 8-0; Audrey Van Arsdale (UP) def. Janorah Moore 8-0; Maddie Walden (UP) def. Malayah McCormick 8-0

Doubles — Megan Smith-Kailee Southworth (UP) def. Orse-Robinson 8-0; Celine Bullock-Tabitha Hamilton (UP) def. Song-McKethen 8-0; Meagan Pusser-Maudie Chalflinch (UP) def. Moore-McCormick 8-0.

Union Pines 6 Douglas Byrd 0

Singles — Mary Beth Jackson (UP) def. Jazmin Orse 8-0; Melissa Tally (UP) def. Judy Song 8-0; Laura Cameron (UP) def. Tasheka Robinson 8-0; Elena D’Argenio (UP) def. Aniyah McKethen 8-0; Megan Smith (UP) def. Janorah Moore 8-0; Kailee Southworth (UP) def. Malayah McCormick 8-0.

‘Stangs Tie in League Soccer

North Moore and East Montgomery battled to a 0-0 tie Wednesday in a battle of Yadkin Valley Conference boys’ soccer leaders. After the two teams remained scoreless after two overtime periods, the game was called a tie. The Mustangs had 12 shots on goal, while the Eagles managed to get five shots on goal.

Mustang coach Michael Shamberger indicated he was pleased with the effort of his team.

North Moore is now 4-2-1 overall and 3-0-1 in conference play.