After five total matches, the boys’ and girls’ finals are set for the 2026 3rd Region Team Tournament. On the boys’ side, top-seeded Owensboro Catholic will take on second-seeded Grayson County, while for the girls, #1 Daviess County squares off against #2 Owensboro Catholic this evening at 4:00 p.m. at Merchant Centre Court.
In the first match of the girls’ tournament, Owensboro outlasted Apollo 3-2, behind the singles play of Eva Carter, Anna Travis, and Lala Cecil. Apollo’s doubles’ teams of Maddie Ebelhar and Elise Wilson and Adelyn Dilback and Erin McManus both won 6-0, 6-0 and 6-1, 6-1. In the quarterfinals, the Lady Devils run came to an end at the hands of Daviess ounty, losing 3-0.
“I think that tonight’s results showed plenty of improvement over the course of the season,” Owensboro girls’ Head Coach Libby Johnson said. “The last time we played Apollo in a dual match it was really close, and then today we won all three of our singles matches. Eighth grader Eva Carter played a gutsy match against her opponent. Overall, I am really proud of them.”
The Lady Panthers advanced to the finals after Jenna Faulkner (6-1, 6-0) and the doubles teams of Maddie Meyer and Alexa Salamah (6-0, 6-0) and Ella Boswell and Claire Dunlay (6-0, 6-0) all won their matches.
Awaiting them is Owensboro Catholic, who beat Grayson County 3-0 earlier in the evening. Starting with a 1-0 lead due to a forfeit, the Lady Aces won in quick succession behind the singles play of Madison Clark (6-2, 6-0) and the doubles team of Lexi Moyers and Gabi Moyers (6-2, 6-2).
On the boys’ side, Owensboro Catholic beat Daviess County 3-0 to advance to the finals thanks to the double’s teams of Oliver Haines and Carson Clark (6-0, 6-0), and Joseph Merchant and Luke Pfeifer (6-0, 6-0), and the singles play of Ben Haines (6-0, 6-0).
On the other end of the bracket, Owensboro lost a heartbreaker to Grayson County 3-1. After losing both doubles matches, John Clay Ford won at number one singles (6-1, 6-2) to cut the lead to 2-1. Miles McDaniel and Walker Gaddis both lost their respective first sets in singles play, but stormed back to take the second set and force third set tiebreakers. The Red Devils were unable to complete the comeback as Gaddis fell in his third set tiebreakers.
“I thought the boys played very well and I was really proud of them,” Owensboro boys Head Coach Clay Ford said. “It was close and came down to a tiebreaker in the singles matches. Our young guys in the doubles played really well, came back, and fought. We almost pulled off all of the singles matches. …I was really proud of our boys. We had a great season, and I wish we could have moved on, but I am excited for what they accomplished and next season.”
Despite the loss, the Red Devils’ season isn’t over as John Clay Ford and Walker Gaddis will represent the Red Devils later this month at semi-state.
