St. James tennis coach Drake Ellis knew his team had to open the 5A state playoffs against a formidable opponent.
West Ashley, the third-place team from a loaded Region 7, fit the bill and handed the Sharks a 5-1 defeat in the first round of the playoffs Tuesday.
鈥淚 think they were a good team coming in,鈥 Ellis said. 鈥淲e knew we were going to have a tough match. I鈥檓 proud of the way my guys played. They played together.鈥
The highlight for the Sharks, who finished second to Carolina Forest in Region 5, was clearly the performance of senior No. 1 player Alex Knight, who rallied to defeat Sully Champlin 2-6, 7-5 (10-6).
鈥淚 just decided to start having fun,鈥 Wright said. "It was my last match. I don鈥檛 play tournaments or anything. So, this was probably it.鈥
In the other matches, Zach Elmore beat Kegan Catoe 6-1, 6-3 at No. 2 singles, Freddy Bruner swept Tristen Cordi 6-0, 6-3 at No. 3, Michael Lemieux beat Jackson Harden 6-1, 6-3 at No. 4 and James Sun beat Caden Mack 6-1, 6-3. In the one doubles contest, Nick Hobbs and Allen Barwick toppedd Davis Rogers and Bennett Liberafore 6-1, 6-3.
The Wildcats took control by winning the first set of all four singles to open play. The Sharks fell in the No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 matches.
That left Knight, who also had a difficult start. And then he was down a break in the second set as West Ashley looked to clinch early.
Knight broke to pull even at 4-4 but then was broken back by Champlin, who then served for the match.
Something clicked with Knight, who loosened up by joking with one of his teammates. Along with that came plenty of stinging backhands and well-placed lobs. Knight swept the next three games to win the set and force a tiebreaker.
Knight never trailed in the tiebreaker, ending it with a backhand winner to the delight of his coach and teammates.
鈥淎lex had had tough matches all year long,鈥 Ellis said. 鈥淎s the No. 1 player, you鈥檙e always going to have tough matches. For him to finish up the way he did was phenomenal.鈥
Making the decision to relax and enjoy the moment went along with Knight鈥檚 changing fortunes in the match.
鈥淚t got my mindset up,鈥 Knight said. 鈥淚 talked to coach about placing the ball and stuff. 鈥 I decided to have fun. That turned it around for me.鈥
West Ashley advanced to play the Wando-Lexington winner in the second round.
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