Credit: Tommy Fleming | The News Herald <\/p>\n
Freedom senior Brandon Burns prepares to hit a slice backhand during doubles action Friday versus Patton. Burns teamed with Braxton Ervin to win the No. 3 doubles match by a 10-3 score. <\/p>\n
By: STAFF REPORTS | Morganton News Herald Published: April 21, 2012 Updated: April 21, 2012 - 4:42 PM<\/p>\n
Freedom tennis coach Wayne Giese has preached all season how important team chemistry is, especially when playing doubles. <\/p>\n
Fridays regular-season finale could not have been scripted any better for the home-standing Patriots in their match against crosstown rival Patton. <\/p>\n
After splitting the singles matches 3-all, Freedom took control by winning both the No. 1 and No. 3 doubles matches to clinch a 5-4 South Mountain 2A\/3A Conference triumph along with a season sweep of the Panthers. <\/p>\n
The match was everything I expected. I love to watch the guys from these two high schools compete in a truly good sportsmanship match, Giese said. Either team could have won. To see a repeat of our early-season match (in which Freedom won 5-4) going down to a doubles match is just incredible. <\/p>\n
Both teams should be primed for the conference tournament starting Tuesday at Patton. <\/p>\n
Freedom sophomore Braxton Ervin teamed with senior Brandon Burns to claim the No. 3 doubles match by a 10-3 margin against Panthers senior Benji Pierson and sophomore John Landers. <\/p>\n
Ervin (No. 5) and Burns (No. 6) dropped their singles matches but were not to be denied in a key doubles matchup. Burns noted the importance of teaming with Ervin to clinch his final high school regular-season match with a victory. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Read the original: Credit: Tommy Fleming | The News Herald Freedom senior Brandon Burns prepares to hit a slice backhand during doubles action Friday versus Patton. Burns teamed with Braxton Ervin to win the No Continue reading
\nH.S. TENNIS ROUNDUP: Freedom cages Panthers<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"