BROOKHAVEN — Bogue Chitto seniors Colten Kimble and Gage Smith were one of the last courts to go final Friday afternoon and punch a ticket to the individual state tournament. Bogue Chitto advanced eight players from the MHSAA Class 1 Regional tournament to the Class 1 Individual State tournament. 

Kimble and Smith won the No. 2 Boys Doubles bracket and had to beat No. 1 Boys Doubles runner-up pairing Knox Leggett and Owen Smith from Loyd Star to advance to state. The win for Kimble and Smith was their third time to advance to the state tournament. 

“It feels good to advance. We went in our ninth, 10th and 12th grade years,” Smith said. “We had a great day with our teammates. It is always better to play doubles with people you know too.” 

Smith and Kimble have known eachother since they were born. Kimble quipped they knew each other in the womb. They have grown up as Bobcats together. 

Kimble is the reason Smith started playing tennis in his ninth grade year. Smith enjoys playing doubles, the competition of tennis and loves the game. 

“It means more emotionally as a senior. This is our last district tournament. It is the most special tennis match you will ever have,” Kimble said. “It is a different connection that we share on the court.” 

The players mentioned their appreciation for Bogue Chitto head coach Chase Wallace and the program winning the Lincoln County tournament for the third time in a row this year. 

In addition to Kimble and Smith reaching the state tournament, Andrew Merrell and Jax Leggett advanced as the No. 1 Boys double pairing. Kyndra Quinn and Autumn Ramshur, No. 1 Girls Double pairing, advanced. Russel Watts and Joy Leggett, No. 2 Mixed Doubles pairing, advanced for Bogue Chitto. 

West Lincoln’s Chloe Sterling advanced as the No. 2 girls single, Baylor Sills and Alexis Johnson advanced as the No. 1 mixed doubles. 

Loyd Star’s Addy Locke advanced as the No. 1 girls singles player and Ethan Smith advanced as the No. 2 boys singles player.

Bogue Chitto was scheduled to play in the MHSAA Class 1 Team playoffs today against Sebastapool. The match was moved due to rain on the courts to April 11 and will start at 3:30 p.m.