DALTON, Ga. — By winning in the Region 7-AAA semifinals Thursday morning, the Heritage boys’ tennis team was able to clear what had been its biggest hurdle. It might take another year or two to make that final jump.
The Generals defeated Cartersville but fell 4-1 to Allatoona in the championship match at Lakeshore Park. Still, they will host a first-round playoff match for the first time in school history next week.
Dalton claimed third in both the girls’ and boys’ tournaments, with the Catamounts (13-8) defeating Cartersville 3-2 and the girls beating LaFayette 3-0. Allatoona beat Cartersville 4-1 in the girls’ final.
Winning a semifinal match against Cartersville — which defeated them in the previous two semifinals — was huge for the Generals (12-2) and coach Darren Miller. The match came down to No. 1 doubles, with Brysen Owen and Matthew Williams getting a service break tied at 4 and serving out the match the next game.
“That was big,” Miller said. “That had been a big hurdle for us to leap Cartersville, since they’d beat us the past two seasons. It was special to get that win, but I almost think there was a little letdown because of the delay between matches and the fact that Dalton lost to Allatoona in the semifinals.