Published: March 25, 2008 09:35 am      

DHS takes second at PCW

Lady Demons finish with three runners-up

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Duncan Lady Demons’ tennis team scooped up a second-place finish at Monday’s tournament at Putnam City West.

Bishop McGuinness took home first with 64 points, 11 ahead of Duncan. Putnam City North was third with 51.

Duncan had three runners-up in Melanie Barnes in No. 1 singles, Samantha Street in No. 2 singles and Robyn Schoen and Haley Hartzell in No. 2 doubles.

“Overall, I think it was a good performance for everybody,” DHS head coach Phil Barnes said. “It was a positive start for the week after spring break. We were tested, and that’s a good thing. We needed to see this kind of competition.”

Melanie Barnes received a bye in the first round of No. 1 singles, and cruised by Choctaw’s Christina LeBarre 6-1, 6-0 in Round 2. Barnes defeated former Class 5A state champ Cassie Carver of PCN, 7-5, 6-2 in the third round, but had to default in the final against Bishop McGuinness’ Petra Lancaster because of an aggravation of the neck injury she suffered in a car accident over a month ago. Coach Barnes said that the injury could linger throughout the year.

“I held her out because I didn’t think it was worth the risk,” Barnes said. “It’s one of those things that she is just going to have to fight through because we need her.”

Street also received a bye in the first round of No. 2 singles before beating Mustang’s Nhi Nguyen 6-3, 6-1 in the second round. Street defeated Enid’s Emily Fike 6-3, 6-2 before falling to Bishop McGuinness; Katelynn Connely 6-1, 6-0 in the final.

Kristen Carr and Kate LeValley finished third in No. 1 doubles, with a 6-2, 6-7, 6-1 win over Kutch and Kutch of PCW. The pair got a bye in the first, and made quick work of PCW’s Barkley and Canada 6-0, 6-1. Carr and LeValley fell in the third round 6-3, 6-4 to Enid’s Humphrey and Zaloudek.

After getting a bye in the opener, Schoen and Hartzell posted back-to-back wins over PCW’s Doane and Collins 6-4, 6-1, and PCN’s Ragan and Mauck 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. The duo fell 6-1, 6-1 to Bishop McGuinness’ Conrad and Chiaf.

The Lady Demons face their toughest competition Friday, when they head to Heritage Hall for the Tournament of Champions.

“It’s an honor to get invited to play up there because the field is full of state champions and runners-up,” Barnes said. “We need to keep facing good competition, and we’ll definitely get it up there.”