Bucs' Delay and Thomas, Hixson's Condra fall in finals

May 23, 2015 at 1:00 a.m. | Updated May 23, 2015 at 2:15 a.m.

by Gene Henley

Boyd-Buchanan tennis player Katie Delay returns the ball during her A-AA state girls tennis tournament championship doubles match with teammate Makenna Thomas against CAK's Elise DeNicola and Allison Ivey at the TSSAA Spring Fling in Murfreesboro, Tenn., on May 21, 2015,
Boyd-Buchanan tennis player Katie Delay returns the ball during her A-AA state girls tennis tournament championship doubles match with teammate Makenna Thomas against CAK's Elise DeNicola and Allison Ivey at the TSSAA Spring Fling in Murfreesboro, Tenn., on May 21, 2015,

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MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- "We did it good."

It was a fitting summary of the high school tennis careers of Boyd-Buchanan seniors Katie Delay and Makenna Thomas after their final match together, Friday's Class A/AA girls' doubles state championship at Old Fort Park. The duo lost a tough match, falling 6-2, 6-0 to Christian Academy of Knoxville's Allison Ivey and Elise DeNicola.

In the A/AA boys' singles title match, Hixson's Alex Condra lost 6-3, 6-0 to Knoxville Catholic's Jacob Lorino.

Delay (whose words summed things up) and Thomas now part ways -- Delay to Lipscomb, Thomas to Auburn -- but they felt good about their final high school memory together.

"We're real happy we made it as far as we did," Thomas said. "They were just better than us today."

Added Delay: "Things didn't turn out the way we wanted today, but we'll leave with good memories from our senior years and our careers."

Delay made three appearances in the state tournament -- two in singles in addition to this year's run in doubles. She and Thomas helped Boyd-Buchanan win region championships in each of their four seasons with the program.

Condra went far beyond his expectations entering the tournament, going from figuring he would lose in the quarterfinals to playing for the championship.

"I think I came in too relaxed," Condra said. "I was happy with how I played in the first set, and overall I was pleased with the season.

"I realize that advancing in this tournament is doable now because I've made it this far. I'm going to use the extra work in the offseason to become even better."

Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.

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