BCHS proves to be doubly dangerous
| Thursday, Nov 13 2008 02:17 AM
Last Updated Friday, Mar 27 2009 02:09 PM
Lyndsay and Chelby Cooke quit playing doubles together five years ago because they couldn’t get along.
Wednesday the two sisters meshed perfectly to propel Bakersfield Christian past visiting San Luis Obispo-Mission Prep 7-2 for the Central Section Division V girls tennis championship.
Decisive victories by its top three singles players helped put top-seeded Bakersfield Christian up 4-2 before the Cooke sisters reunited on the court to clinch the Eagles’ (23-0-2) fourth straight section title with a dominating 6-0, 6-1 victory over Mission Prep siblings Stephanie and Rachel Ronca.
“It was really good,” Chelby said. “It was the first time in a long time we’ve played together because we usually fight too much. But it was really relaxed and we were having fun.”
The BCHS standouts — both semifinalists in the Central Section individual tournament which resumes Saturday at Clovis-Buchanan — traded good-natured, verbal barbs with each other throughout the match.
“It was really fun because Bub (Chelby) is really good,” Lyndsay said. “It was really exciting. I loved to finish that way. I was really hoping — not that it would come to that — but we would get to do it. It was great.”
Eagles coach Frank Thiessen made the unprecedented move of pairing his best two players together in an effort to finish off No. 2 Mission Prep (13-6).
“The only reason I did it in this match is because of the importance of the match," Thiessen said. “And also the Cookes wanted to play together. Their grandmother is here from Boston and I thought it would be a great deal just having them play together.”
Lyndsay (28-0) didn’t lose a game for the 25th time this season in trouncing Stephanie Ronca 6-0, 6-0 to give Bakersfield Christian an early 1-0 lead.
“My serve was awful,” Lyndsay said. “I made two first-serves the entire match. But other than that I think I played pretty well. I kept more consistent and I didn’t go for a whole lot early in the points. I kind of waited it out and then I took my opportunity when I saw it.”
Chelby (28-0) beat Rachel Ronca 6-0, 6-1, Lily Schuler defeated Helena Olivieri 6-4, 6-0, and Jannelle Fivecoate topped Aparna Phat 6-1, 6-4 to put the Eagles one point away from victory before sweeping all three doubles matches.
“It’s the strength of our team that gave us this victory today,” Thiessen said. “Chelby and Lyndsay are great at the top — two of the best players in the valley — yet everybody else below had to do their job.”
Shuler and Carolyn Stevens beat Olivieri and Ruslana Cannell 6-2, 6-2 while Jimmi Futrell and Melissa Merrill knocked off Jenna Dunbar and Grace Casola 6-3, 6-0 as the Eagles beat the Royals for championship for the second straight year.
This year’s team is probably the strongest team that I’ve had at Bakersfield Christian High School,” Thiessen said. “It’s strong from one through ten. It’s the strength of the team that has made us as good as we are. “They’ve have just had it set in their minds that they were going to win the valley title again and it is something they have strived for and they have won it. They played great all year.”
