Bison take two-point state lead into today

Senior Cassiddy Beeby makes the lunging save as McCook’s No. 1 doubles team also featuring senior Syd Thompson lost only one game in Class B state tournament play Thursday. The Bison duo advances into today’s state semifinals.

Gayl Korus and Lori Beeby/For The Gazette

OMAHA, Neb. — Huge state team-title deciding matches fill Friday’s Class B state tennis schedule since four teams are clearly within winning range.

Perhaps no match will be more pivotal than the No. 2 singles semifinals where McCook’s No. 7-seed Haley Potthoff (31-7) meets Brownell-Talbot-Concordia No. 3 Aruna Bashir (13-2).

The Bison and B-T-C are currently running 1-2 in team points with McCook leading 34-32. Omaha Duchesne Academy and Grand Island Central Catholic are only another two points back (30 points each).

Potthoff already pulled off one fantastic win over Duchesne No. 2 Lesley Lam in Thursday’s quarterfinals.

However, the most team points are awarded for No. 1 singles and No. 2 doubles wins.

McCook undefeated No. 1 Kassidy Michaelis (45-0) will play a semifinal against Lincoln Christian’s Chloe Dworak.

Top players from Duchesne and B-T-C are playing the other No. 1 semifinal.

Meanwhile, McCook’s No. 1 doubles Syd Thompson and Cassidy Beeby take on Grand Island Central Catholic’s Katie Maser-Avery Kalvoda. The winner would meet either Duchesne or York to decide that state championship.

No. 2 doubles will be the only division where McCook doesn’t feature a semifinalist. Juniors Riley Hansen and Syd Stewart dropped their quarterfinal in three sets to Elkhorn’s Claire Burford-Sarah Riddell.

Both B-T-C and Grand Island Central Catholic can pick up points if they win No. 2 doubles semifinals. Watch for final details on Monday.