Tessa Gray helps Cumberlands win MSC Tournament

Former Mason County Lady Royal Tessa Gray and her University of the Cumberlands women's tennis teammates won the Mid-South Conference Tournament on Sunday in Bowling Green.

The Patriots defeated Lindsey Wilson 4-1. It's the just the third conference championship for the Cumberlands women's tennis program and its first since 2000.  

Gray, a junior from May's Lick and Meiri Okuwaki, a freshman from Japan, won their 13th consecutive match to get the Patriots' first win of the day. Gray and Okuwaki won 6-2. 

Okuwaki, the Mid-South Conference Freshman of the Year, would go on to win her singles match.

Earlier this month, Gray, who is majoring in biology was named Academic All-Conference for the third straight year and also received the Champions of Character award.

Gray and Cumberlands lose to Keiser in 2nd round of the NAIA National Tournament

The University of the Cumberlands #3 doubles team of Laura Maria and Mason County graduate Tessa Gray lost 6-3 today in the second round of the NAIA National Tournament to end the season with a 20-2.

Cumberlands lost to Keiser 4-0 to close out the season with a 20-2 record.

The Patriots were the Mid-South Conference regular season champions. Marie was named the MSC Freshman of the Year. She had a 10-0 record in MSC singles play in the regular season. Marie and Gray were 10-0 in MSC doubles play in the regular season.

Tessa Gray and her UC teammates advance win opening round match in the NAIA National Tournament

Former Mason County Lady Royal Tessa Gray teamed up with Laura Marie for a 6-2 win at No. 3 doubles to help the University of the Cumberlands women's tennis team defeat Indiana Tech in the opening round of the NAIA National Tournament in Mobile, Alabama this morning.

The Patriots, 20-3 this season,  advance to the round of 16 to play No. 2 seed Keiser on Wednesday. 

Random notes

Here are a few random notes for what looks like is going to be a rainy Saturday:

Laura Marie and former Mason County Royal Tessa Gray won their #2 doubles match 6-2, but the Cumberlands women's tennis team lost their Mid-South Conference Championship match to Lindsey Wilson 4-2 on Sunday in Owensboro. The 19-3 Patriots await a bid to the NAIA Tournament.

Mark Blakefield was T8 after finishing his rain-delayed second round of the Korn Ferry Tour's Veritex Bank Championship in Arlington, Texas. Blakefield shot a 67 in the first round on Thursday and a 66 in the second round which he finished this morning. He was at 9-under, six shots off the lead.

Mason County sophomore Philip Bierley had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, but his Kentucky Select Blue 16U AAU team lost to Indiana Game Premier on Friday. Bierley scored 24 points and grabbed 19 rebounds in a 79-73 victory on Sunday.

I have changed the address for the Mason County Royals basketball blog which features records, rosters and other facts. The new address is masoncountyroyalsbasketball.blogspot com

Random notes

Here are a few random notes for a chilly Saturday: 

Mason County senior Milyn Henry signed Friday afternoon to continue her academic and basketball career at Midway University. She had verbally committed to the school last month.

Former Mason County Lady Royal Tess Gray helped the University of the Cumberlands women's tennis team defeat Martin Methodist in the second round of the Mid-South Conference in Owensboro on Friday. Gray teamed with Laura Marie for a 6-0 victory in the #2 doubles match. The Patriots play Cumberland University (Tennessee) today in the semifinals.

Former Mason County Royal Darren Williams pitched eight scoreless innings in Eastern Kentucky's 1-0 win over Jacksonville State Friday night. Williams allowed six hits, walked three and struck out a career-high nine batters.

The Mason County track and field team is hosting the Royal Rumble Invitational, the first home meet of the outdoor season, today. Check back here for the results.

(Updated to correct Laura Marie's name.)

Tessa Gray earns Mid-South Conference Academic All-Conference honors

University of the Cumberlands tennis player Tessa Gray, a 2018 graduate of Mason County High School, has earned Mid-South Conference Academic All-Conference honors.

To be nominated for the award, a student-athlete must maintain a 3.25 grade point average and must have achieved at least sophomore academic status.

Tessa Gray helps University of the Cumberlands to win Mid-South Conference regular season championship

Former Mason County Lady Royal Tessa Gray helped the University of the Cumberlands Patriots win the Mid-South Conference women's tennis regular season championship.

Gray teamed with Laurie Marie to win the No. 2 doubles match and secure a 1-0 lead against Martin Methodist on Friday. Cumberlands would go to a 7-0 victory to complete the regular season with a 10-0 record in conference play.

The Patriots, 16-2 overall, will begin the MSC Championships on Thursday in Owensboro.

Gray is 15-2 in doubles play this season.

News and notes

Here are a few news and notes:

• Mason County High School alum Dalton Ritchie helped Midland University win the Division 1 American Trap Shooting Championship at the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio, Texas last week. Ritchie, a junior, also took third place in the individual trap shooting. Midland University is located in Fremont, Nebraska.

• Another Mason County High School graduate,Tessa Gray, is the University of the Cumberlands Female Athlete of the Week. Gray is a freshman tennis player. Here is a link to the press release.

• The Mason County football team wrapped up two weeks of spring practice last Friday. The first day of summer practice is scheduled Wednesday, July 10th. The Royals open the season August 23rd at home vs. Russell in the Meadowview Regional Medical Center Kickoff Classic.

Tessa Gray's high school career ends in the 2nd round of the KHSAA Tennis Championships

Mason County senior Tessa Gray's outstanding high school career came to end today with a loss in the second round of the KHSAA Tennis Championships in Lexington.

Gray defeated LaRue County senior Karrington Donahue 6-0, 6-2 in the opening round this morning, but lost to North Oldham freshman Katie Beavin, a No. 5 seed, 4-6, 3-6 in the second round this afternoon.

Gray, who has signed to play at the University of the Cumberlands, advanced to the state tournament five out of six seasons. She won her second straight region championship this season and also has been a region runner-up.

St. Patrick's Logan Kalb and Evan Kalb had a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Knott County Central's Austin Hesston and Bryson Honeycutt in the opening round of the boys' tournament this morning, but lost to Villa Madonna's Yamann Ahmad and Robert Spicker 1-6, 0-6 in the second round this afternoon.

In the girls' doubles tournament, Mason County's Mallory Conrad and Haley White lost to McCracken County's Emily Dew and Isabella McKinney 2-6, 3-6 in the opening round.

KHSAA Tennis Championships brackets released

The KHSAA State Tennis Championships brackets were released today.

Mason County senior Tessa Gray plays LaRue County senior Karrington Donahue Thursday at 9:15 a.m.,  and in girls' doubles, Mason County's Mallory Conrad and Haley White play Emily Dew and Isabella McKinney of McCracken County Thursday at 11:45 a.m. Both of those matches will be played at the Boone Tennis Center at the University of Kentucky.

In boys' doubles, St. Patrick's Logan Kalb and Evan Kalb play Austin Hesston and Bryson Honeycutt of Knott County Central Thursday at 11:15 a.m. at Shillito Park.

Here are links to the brackets:

Girls Singles

Girls Doubles

Boys Doubles


(Updated to fix the link to the Boys Doubles bracket)

Gray and Lady Royals back-to-back 10th Region Champions

Mason County senior Tessa Gray is the girls tennis singles 10th Region champion for the second straight year and the Lady Royals are back-to-back champions.

Gray, the No. 1 seed defeated No. 4 seed Brooke Hodory of Highlands 6-2, 6-1 in the semifinals and No. 2 seed Natalie Smith of Campbell County 7-5, 6-1 in the championship match Monday in Mt. Sterling.

Gray won four matches in the tournament without losing a set.

The Lady Royals edged the Harrison County Fillies by two points for the team title.

The Mason County girls doubles team of Mallory Conrad and Haley White won their semifinal match 6-4, 6-3, but lost  6-4, 4-6,11-9 in the finals.

St. Patrick brothers Logan and Evan Kalb lost their semifinal match. All semifinalists advance to the state tournament.

Matt Jolly and Tessa Gray on SportsTalk

Mason County tennis coach Matt Jolley and Mason County senior Tessa Gray were my guests on SportsTalk this morning.

Here is a link to the podcast.

Tessa Gray signed with the University of the Cumberlands

Mason County senior Tessa Gray signed Wednesday to play tennis at the University of the Cumberlands.

Last spring, Gray led the Lady Royals to their first regional championship since 1991. Gray also won the singles regional title and advanced to the second round of the state tournament.

Gray loses in the 2nd round, White and Conrad lose in the 1st round of state tennis tourney

Mason County junior Tessa Gray defeated Lee County junior Ellen Jennings 6-0, 6-0 in the first round of the state tennis tournament, but lost to Sacred Heart Academy sophomore Ella Rueff 1-6, 0-6 in the second round today at the University of Kentucky Boone/Downing Tennis Complex.

The Mason County doubles team of Haley White and Mallory Conrad lost to Melody Dunaway and Sara Dunaway of Harrison County 2-6, 3-6.

Pairings set for the KHSAA state tennis tournaments

The KHSAA has released the brackets for the state tennis tournaments scheduled May 18-20 in Lexington.

Mason County junior Tessa Gray will play Lee County junior Ellen Jennings in the first round of the girls' singles tournament May 18 at 10:30 a.m.

The Mason County girls' doubles team of Haley White and Mallory Conrad will play Melody Dunaway and Sara Dunaway of Harrison County May 18 at 11:45 a.m.

Girls' Singles Bracket

Girls' Doubles Bracket

Lady Royals region champs for first time since 1991

The Mason County Lady Royals are the 10th Region tennis champions for the first time since 1991.

No. 1 seed Tessa Gray won the singles tournament, and Haley White and Mallory Conrad won the doubles tournament Wednesday at Harrison County.

The Lady Royals edged Highlands for the team title.

In the semifinals, Gray defeated Paxton Glenn of Campbell County 6-1, 6-0. 

Gray beat Mia Smith of Highlands 6-0, 6-2 in the championship match.

"She's a true champion," Mason County coach Clay Boone said of Gray. "She's earned it; she looks forward to the state tournament."

White and Conrad, seeded 4th, beat Lanza and Gill of Harrison County 6-1, 6-1 in the semifinals.

"Our returns were just excellent," Boone said. "We were hitting big targets, closing out balls through the middle, really being the aggressor. They called us the big bullies on court. We were really controlling the court yesterday in doubles."

In the championship match, White and Conrad upset No.1 seed Highlands 3-6, 6-3, 10-5.

"They told me on the changeover, 'coach we're going to be champions today,'" Boone said. 

The Lady Royals received a police escort from the county line to the high school by the Mason County Sheriff's Department.

"It's a special time for Mason County tennis," Boone said. "It's a special time for the community. I'm just proud to be along for the ride with these kids."

The girls state tennis tournament will be played May 18-20 at the University of Kentucky Boone/Downing Tennis Complex. 

Gray, White and Conrad advance to region semis

Mason County junior Tessa Gray and the Mason County girls' doubles team of Haley White and Mallory Conrad have qualified for the state tennis tournament by advancing to the semifinals of the 10th Region tournaments at Harrison County.

Gray, the No. 1 seed, cruised to a 6-0, 6-0 win over Brooke Hodory of Highlands. Gray plays Paxton Glenn of Campbell County in the semifinals.

White and Conrad beat Miller and Utz of Pendleton County 6-1, 6-1. White and Conrad play Lanza and Gill of Harrison County in the semifinals.

Mason County senior Timmy Douglas, the No. 5 seed, lost to No. 4 seed Colin Rizzo of Highlands 0-6, 2-6.

The St. Patrick boys' doubles team of Logan Kalb and Evan Kalb lost to Bertsch and Coyle of Campbell County 6-3, 0-6, 5-10.

Team scores through the quarterfinal round:

Boys

Campbell County11

Highlands 8

Newport Central Catholic 6

Pendleton County 5

Harrison County 5

Bourbon County 4

Mason County 4

Bellevue 3

Montgomery County 3

Paris 3

Clark County 2

Augusta 1

Girls

Campbell County 9

Highlands 8

Mason County 8

Harrison County  8
Bourbon County 5

Clark County 4

Pendleton County  4

Montgomery County 3

Nicholas County 1

Newport Central Catholic 1

Bracken County 1

Several local players advance in 10th Region tennis tournaments

Mason County junior Tessa Gray, the No. 1 seed, advanced to the quarterfinal round of the 10th Region girls' tennis tournament with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Jenna Sanders of Nicholas County Monday at the Harrison County tennis complex.

Mason County senior Timmy Douglas, the No. 5 seed, defeated Victor Cruz of 6-1, 6-1 in the boys' single tournament.

The Mason County girls' doubles team of Haley White and Mallory Conrad advanced with a 6-0, 6-1 victory.

The St. Patrick boys' doubles team of Logan Kalb and Evan Kalb posted a 6-2, 6-3 win.

10th Region tennis pairings set; Tessa Gray is the No. 1 seed

Mason County junior Tessa Gray is the No. 1 seed in the 10th Region girls singles tennis tournament.

The tournaments are scheduled to begin Friday at Harrison County, but the weather might not cooperate. The forecast calls for rain.

Mason County coach Clay Boone is the tournament manager.

Here are the brackets:

Gray and Morris win 1st round matches at state, but lose in 2nd round

Mason County sophomore Tessa Gray and Mason County junior Luke Morris won their first round matches in the Republic Bank/KHSAA State Tennis Tournaments in Lexington this morning, but lost in the second round this afternoon.

Gray defeated Russell County junior Kaylie Polston 6-1, 6-2, but in a rematch of the 10th finals, Gray lost to Highlands senior Lexi Herman 3-6, 1-6.

Morris beat Marion County junior Dylan Bradshaw 6-2, 6-3, but lost to Oneida Baptist junior Choopat Suvimolstean, the No. 3 seed, 0-6, 0-6.