Panthers just shy of defeating Clarke

Despite their 1-5 record, Creston was just one point short of Clarke in a tennis dual Friday in Creston.

The Indians (5-1) took the win 5-4.

The dual was tied 3-3 after singles were completed. It came down to a close No. 2 doubles battle between Creston’s Spencer Brown and Ben Rushing versus Clarke’s Jonathan Galvez and Easton Brokaw. The Indians duo came away with an 8-6 win.

Creston’s No. 3 Timothy Bartlett, No. 5 Carson Beer and No. 6 Dylan Dornack were the Panthers’ singles winners.

Bartlett defeated Galvez 8-4, Beer topped Austin Stoll 8-2 and Dornack shut out Carson Jones 8-0.

Rushing had another close bout in singles, going to an extra game where Brokaw came away with the victory. Rushing lost the set 9-7.

Brown was also close in the No. 1 match, falling to Casey Wade 8-5.

Beer and Dornack were perfect on the night, defeating the Clarke duo of Jones and Blaze Schiltz 8-1 in No. 3 doubles.

Saturday the Panthers completed in Atlantic where the team finished seventh at the tournament with 7 points. Shenandoah won with 31.

The Panthers return to action tonight at Clarinda.