Doubles finish 2nd at state

Published 12:00 am Saturday, April 27, 2013

MONTGOMERY — Andalusia senior Tucker Foshee will never forget his first state championship.

Battling all season out on LBWCC’s tennis courts for a top seed on the team, Foshee played well enough to get paired with David May in No. 2 doubles.

Foshee, a senior, and May fought their way through the quarterfinals and semifinals on Thursday to set a date with UMS-Wright’s William Hooper and Nicholas Anez for the state championship on Friday at Lagoon Park Tennis Center.

Hooper and Anez blew out the Andalusia duo 0-6 in the first set, but the hometown Bulldogs regrouped and made a dramatic finish, dropping 4-6 in the second set.

Foshee said it was “exciting” to play in the state finals.

“It didn’t end the way I wanted it to,” the senior said. “I wanted to win, but you can’t always win.”

In the dramatic finish, Andalusia came from falling behind 2-1 in the second set to tie the fifth through eighth games to bring it to 4-4.

In singles action, Andalusia had its No. 2, 3 and 4 seeds playing in the semifinal round. May fell to UMS-Wright’s Dexter Harvey 0-6, 0-6 in No. 2 singles; Andalusia’s Brandon Scruggs fell to LAMP’s Jae Min Kim 7-5, 2-6, 1-6 in No. 3 singles; and Andalusia’s Jackson Moore fell 2-6, 2-6 to UMS-Wright’s Hunter Lanier in No. 4 singles.

AHS boys tennis coach Perry Dillard said he was proud of his team’s showing at state.

“This was the first time we’ve ever had two doubles and three singles in the semifinals,” Dillard said. “I’m really proud of Tucker and David for getting to play for a state championship.”

When the point totals are released, Dillard said he’s confident this year will mark the highest Andalusia has finished.

“It was a good year,” he said.

Andalusia finished its season with an 8-4 record.

Foshee, who will graduate next month, said he won’t forget his time on the hard court at Lagoon Park.

“It’s just been a really great experience,” he said. “It’s something you can tell your grand kids that you made the championship.”

Andalusia’s boys team finished in fourth place with 30 points. The girls finished in ninth place with five.