FLOWERY BRANCH — Both the Flowery Branch tennis teams and the Cherokee Bluff boys tennis teams rolled into the second round on Monday in the first round of the state playoffs.
The Region 8-4A second-seeded Lady Falcons were dominating in a 5-0 win over North Clayton in the Class 4A tournament. They did not lose a single game as they advanced to take on the inner of the Pickens-Marist matchup in the second round.
Alyssa McSpadden, Sandra Hernandez, and Julianna Velaj all won 6-0, 6-0 in singles while the No. 1 doubles team of Madison Sedwick and Avery Marx also won 6-0, 6-0. The No. 2 doubles team win by forfeit.
It was the same for the Branch boys, also second-seeded, who took a 5-0 win over Riverdale without losing a game. Jack Thomas, Caden Caldwell, and Logan Magunson all won 6-0, 6-0 in singles. The No. 1 doubles team of Satino Sengson and Mason Foreman and the No. 2 doubles team of Josh Warren and Grant Anglin also won 6-0, 6-0.
The Falcons now will move to take on Region 6-4A champion Marist in the second round.
The Cherokee Bluff boys, the Region 7-3A champions, held off Sonoraville 3-0 to win their first-ever playoff match and advance to the second round of the Class 3A tournament.
JC Foster took a 6-0, 6-1 win at No. 1 singles and Mason Smith won 6-1, 6-3 at No. 3 singles. The No. 1 doubles team of Connor Walker and Cade Ellis took a 6-2, 6-1 victory to help close it out. Joshua Reynolds at No. 2 singles and the No. 2 doubles team of Lee McDaniel and Ricky Lush were leading in their matches when it ended.
The Bears move on to play host to the Stephens County-Greater Atlanta Christian winner in the second round.
The Cherokee Bluff girls, the No. 2 seed from Region 7-3A, was knocked off by Region 6-3A third-seeded Rockmart in a 3-0 decision on Monday to be eliminated.
In Buford in the Class 6A playoffs, both Buford teams advanced to the second round with wins over Alexander.
The boys took a 4-0 victory and dropped just three games to improve to 13-4 on the season. Dean Kingsley won 6-1, 6-2 at No. 1 singles and James Troutt took a 6-0, 6-0 win at No. 2 while the No. 1 doubles team of Leyton Grothe and Nic Keller and the No. 2 team of Grayson Gilbert and Brent Sherman both got 6-0, 6-0 victories.
The Lady Wolves also improved to 13-4 on the season with a 3-0 win, dropping just one game. Taylor Aycock took a 6-1, 6-0 win at No. 1 singles and the No. 1 doubles team of Kennedy Deloach and Kylie McCammon and the No. 2 doubles of Taylor Ryzcek and Sophie Brewer both took 6-0, 6-0 wins.
The boys next will play host to Cambridge on Wednesday in the second round.
The Lady Wolves will await the winner of Kennesaw Mountain and Centennial on Thursday at home.
