The Bellmont Braves were eliminated from the postseason in their sectional opener against the favored Norwell Knights, who won in straight sets in all five matchups.
“It’s a tough end to the season,” noted head coach Kyle Arnold. His Braves found pockets of really good play this season and probably won a few matches they shouldn’t have, all while growing as a team through tragedy and loss.
“The girls played very well,” said the coach to sum up the day Thursday, “but Norwell is just a juggernaut this year in the conference and in our sectionals.”
Arnold expects the Knights to still be playing next week.
Thursday marked the end of the run for doubles partners Marisol Jackson and Isabelle Ortiz. The only two seniors in the lineup have served as an example to a lot of younger girls on the team about how a doubles team should play together and help each other.
Four out of the seven players on the BHS varsity roster were just 10th graders this year and many of the losses suffered by junior Leila Jin at No. 1 singles were to this year’s seniors, leading most to believe that this Bellmont team will be better next year than they were this year with that much talent returning.
Norwell will play Adams Central in the sectional final Friday.
Norwell 5 Bellmont 0
No. 1-Addy Heyerly (N) d. Leila Jin, 6-4, 6-4
No. 2-Delaney Hoover (N) d. Lillian Jin, 6-3, 6-2
No. 3-Macy Saalfrank (N) d. Emma Fuelling, 6-1, 6-2
No. 1-Macy Felger/Annabelle Johnson (N) d. Isabelle Ortiz/Marisol Jackson, 6-3, 6-3
No. 2-Cierra Hiester/Jordyn Xayyachack (N) d. Ella Ross/Lilyana Suarez, 6-4, 6-3
