February 17, 2018
The East Central Community College men’s tennis team finally got its spring 2018 season underway Friday, Feb. 16, after several weather postponements. The No. 14 nationally ranked Marion Military Institute Tigers visited Decatur and left with an 8-1 win.
“We had our chances,” said ECCC Coach Jay Pacelli. “Willie Wooten and Landon Gibson had great efforts at No. 2 and No. 5 singles, but came up short. We also will be looking to improve at doubles for our MACJC matches ahead.”
In the doubles action, ECCC’s Tom Langelaar (Veldhoven, Netherlands) and Joseph Jabour of Warren Central lost to Daniel Boussom/Connor Higginbotham 3-8; EC’s Willie Wooten of Warren Central and Landon Gibson of Clarkdale lost to Saechan Lee/Kai Tougas 3-8; and EC’s Emontie Lewis of Terry and Jake Wofford of East Webster lost to Isaiah Polk/Justin Matthews 7-9.
In the singles, Langelaar lost to Boussom 6-2, 6-1; Wooten lost Lee to 3-6, 6-3, 10-3; Jabour lost to Polk 6-3, 6-4; Lewis lost to Tougas 6-4, 6-0; Gibson lost Higginbotham 6-2, 2-6, 10-6; and EC’s Isaac Keen of Winston Academy defeated Matthews 6-1, 6-0.
The Warriors are back in action next week when they face MACJC foe Copiah-Lincoln on Tuesday, Feb. 20, at 2 p.m. in Wesson. ECCC stays on the road Friday, Feb. 23, to play MACJC opponent Itawamba at 11 a.m. in Fulton and then Blue Mountain College at 4:30 in New Albany.
