text: Greenbrier, Evans split tennis match Wednesday | Columbia County News-Times
  February 20, 2018 | 2:04 pm
  Posted: March 20, 2014 - 9:07am | Updated: March 22, 2014 - 11:02pm
  Greenbrier's Morgan Taylor won her match against Jazmine Lawson.
  Evans' Kody Blanchard lost to Greenbrier's Alexander Kirov.
  Evans' Jazmine Lawson competed against Greenbrier's Morgan Taylor. Photo by Jim Blaylock
  Greenbrier's Alexander Kirov played Evans' Kody Blanchard. Photo by Jim Blaylock
  Evans' Kody Blanchard competed against Greenbrier's Alexander Kirov. Photo by Jim Blaylock
  With Lakeside High School running roughshod over the county, Wednesday's tennis match between Greenbrier and Evans was essentially to grab control of second place in Region 2A-AAAAA.
  "It was a big win, they're starting to feel more confident and comfortable," said Greenbrier head coach Stefanie Basinger of her girls team, which improved to 6-1, 3-1 region.
  The Knights' boys (4-2, 3-2) took the early lead for second place which head coach Sarah Harrington thinks could be crucial down the road.
  "It's definitely better to have a higher seed," Harington said. "It's a little advantage when you go to the region tournament."
  The teams don't have much time to process their matches as they square off again today in the second game of their home-and-home meetings.
  Evans' boys No. 2 Tim Arnette, who beat Tyler Jenkinson 6-1, 6-0, thinks the team can make some noise in the postseason.
  "We're not as good as Lakeside, but we're a team that has a lot of potential to be competitive in the region and state competition," Arnette said.
  Dylan Parker finished the Knights' singles matches with a 6-1, 6-2 triumph over Jonathan Francisco. In doubles, the Knights' Jonathan White and Chase Manley took out Justin Smith and Brendon Steffes 6-3, 6-3 and Chase Kendrick and Kevin Lavin defeated Holden Ashley and Dayton Austin 6-7 (8-6), 6-4, 10-5.
  Early in the second set of the girls No. 1 singles, Evans' (2-4, 2-3) Jazmine Lawson had Greenbrier's Morgan Taylor running from line to line, but Taylor answered each shot and eventually won the point, winning the match 6-1, 6-1.
  "I owe that to athleticism," Taylor said of winning the point, adding that she was starting to feel more in rhythm since making a transition from the basketball season.
  Greenbrier 5-0
  Singles: Morgan Taylor (G) def. Jazmine Lawson, 6-1, 6-1; Lauren Batchelor (G) def. Anisha Harilal 6-3, 6-1; Diane Klement (G) def. Stacey Vacekonis 6-0, 6-2; Doubles: Skyler Slay-Regan Harrison (G) def. Lucy Oliff-Pauline Le Toullec (E) 6-4, 6-2; Allie Overstreet-Meghan Dixon (G) def. Christina Rimbey-Taylor Mangrum (L) 6-0, 6-1.
  Singles: Alexander Kirov (G) def. Cody Blanchard (E) 6-1, 6-1; Tim Arnette (E) def. Tyler Jenkinson (G) 6-1, 6-0; Dylan Parker (E) def. Jonathan Francisco (G) 6-1, 6-2; Doubles: Jonathan White-Chase Manley (E) def. Justin Smith-Brendon Steffes (G) 6-3, 6-3; Chase Kendrick-Kevin Lavin (E) def. Holden Ashley-Dayton Austin (G) 6-7 (8-6), 6-4, 10-5.