BROOKHAVEN — Bogue Chitto’s Autumn Ramshur and Kendra Quinn were one of the first courts to finish up in a tennis match against Pisgah High School Wednesday evening. The duo won 6-1 and 6-3 to give the Bobcats a crucial point but Pisgah would go on to win four courts to three. 

Ramshur and Quinn play well together, they communicate well and are best friends on and off the tennis courts or soccer field. Wednesday’s match required a little more than good teamwork from the girls doubles partners. 

Winds swirled and swelled causing abrupt changes in conditions. Brookhaven was under a wind advisory which warned of gusts reaching upwards of 40 to 50 mph. Bogue Chitto played its match in winds around 10 mph but a sudden gust could affect how the tennis ball traveled. 

“It was stressful. We had to change the way we hit the ball,” Quinn said. “You have to hit it less sometimes or else it will go too far. Sometimes you have to hit it in a different way to work with the wind.” 

Tactical tennis shots helped them overcome the wind to earn a victory. Quinn and Ramshur are in their second year of playing tennis together. It helps to have a partner to play with because playing singles can be a little lonely, Quinn said. 

Ramshur said it helps to have a friend to rely on when she is on the court. They have grown from last year and have developed control of their shots on the court. Quinn said they fill the gaps in their weaknesses. 

“We are comfortable with each other. We are constructive critics and like to build on our critiques,” Ramshur said. “If I’m doing bad I want someone to tell me I’m doing bad. We are compatible. It is not like one of us is working harder than the other.”

The pair are 2-1 this season and have a goal to reach the state tournament at the end of the season. Ramshur said they were really close to reaching state but had lost a tiebreaker where they had to go over 10 points because you must win by two if your opponent is at 9 points. 

A tough ending to last season has pushed the pair for this year. Ramshur said she hates losing and Quinn does too. Josh Leggett gave them a motto they play towards, “Be agile, be mobile and be hostile.” 

On the court beside them, Andrew Merrell and Colten Kimble had a few shots get held up by the wind in the air which caused some missed chances. They lost in a tie breaker as did the No.2 doubles pairing for Bogue Chitto.

Head Coach Chase Wallace said his team is 0-7 in tiebreakers this year. Had the Bobcats won one of those tie-breakers it would have allowed Bogue Chitto to beat Pisgah last night when No.1 boy’s singles player Jax Leggett finished with a 6-1 and 6-4 win. 

Jacey Hutson helped the Bobcats win a court in No. 1 girls singles. On the JV side, No. 3 Girls Doubles pair Kassadi Watts and Raylee Price won a court, No.4  Girls Doubles pair Mallory Williams and Jayden Butt won a court and Boys singles No.2 Nathan Bowers won a court. Bogue Chitto returns to action on Thursday in Hattiesburg against Collins at 3:30 and will return for a match against Franklin County at 3:30 Friday at the Brookhaven’s City Courts.