Boyd-Buchanan solidifying lineup

Boyd-Buchanan cheerleading practice left one spot open on the tennis squad.

But the Lady Buccaneers still beat McMinn Central 7-2 Tuesday afternoon at the Brainerd tennis courts. The Bucs swept the Chargers 9-0.

The Boyd-Buchanan girls are 6-3 overall and 5-3 in District 5-A/AA. The boys’ team is 5-4, 4-4.

Boyd-Buchanan’s Tarah Garner blanked Sarah Rymer at No. 1 singles, 8-0, and Emily Peace beat Keltsey Rollo 8-2 at No. 2. The Lady Bucs’ Maggie Brown defeated Shelby Barnett at No. 3, 8-3, and in the fourth spot, Emily Baker edged Madison Lee, 8-6.

Boyd-Buchanan’s Puja Chaudhari won at No. 5, but teammate Morgan Peterson forfeited her matches at No. 6 singles and No. 3 doubles to attend a mandatory cheerleading practice.

Peace and Brown defeated Rymer and Rollo at No. 1 doubles, while Garner and Baker teamed to beat Lee and Barnett.

Boyd-Buchanan won the District 5-AA two years ago when Garner was a freshman at No. 1 but had a rough beginning to this season. The Lady Bucs started the year with nine players but now have just enough for the top six. Two of the squad’s seniors quit, while a back injury sidelined another player. Garner missed a few matches at the beginning of the season due to academic reasons.

“I’m glad to be back for good,” Garner said. “My matches went well today, and Emily and I play really good together. It’s fun to play with her. I’m hoping to practice more and get back on the court. We’re doing well and our team doing a lot better than a few years ago.”

Said coach Thomas Cole: “We knew we’d be in good shape at Nos. 1 and 2, and the bottom of the lineup is progressing slowly. Having Tarah back helps a lot. When you lose your No. 1, everyone else plays higher, and now everyone’s playing where they should be playing.”