Crumbie, Sinclair top interscholastic tourney

Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

Versan's Camarsh Crumbie and KBC Learning's Siquena Sinclair were the toast of the Burger King Interscholastic tennis tournament, copping the boys' and girls' Under-18 titles, respectively, as the tournament came to a close at the Eric Bell Tennis Centre on Sunday.

The determined Sinclair repelled a late second-set surge from rival and school-mate Shantal Blackwood, to wrap up her match in straight sets 6-1, 7-5, while Crumbie looked simply unstoppable as he humbled Phillip Bond 6-1, 6-1.

The player, who admitted to having a case of the butterflies prior to the start of his match, certainly never showed it on the court as he dominated from wire to wire.

Keeping his opponent on the back-foot with a powerful first serve, Crumbie held easy, before showing off a pair of soft hands at the net as he broke Bond for a 2-0 lead. The lanky Bond got himself on the board at 3-1, but could do little to slow the powerful Crumbie, who broke again for a 5-1 lead before successfully serving for the first set.

Bond doubled his effort in the second set but Crumbie simply wouldn't crack and, buoyed by a high-first serve percentage and hard-running to win the big points, had the match wrapped up in half an hour.

Tough competition

"I was a little nervous heading out there today I have never played in the tournament before and I wanted to do well," Crumbie said.

"I just went out and played and he was tough competition, but I think I was able to play at a higher level today," he added.

In boys' 16 action, 14-year-old Daniel Harris of Hillel had to battle hard to eventually get by 10-year-old schoolmate, Andy Bicknell, 6-1, 7-5, 6-2. Knockalva Technical's Shelita Haughton captured the girls' equivalent, getting the better of Wolmer's Sara Orrett 6-0, 6-3.

In boys' 14 play, Maiz Sinclair of Heinz Simonitch defeated Luke Therrien 6-4, 2-6, 6-1, while Immaculate's Michael-Ann Denton beat MoBay High's Shadae Findlay 6-2, 6-3 for the girls' equivalent.

Chetwood Primary's Shae-Ann Kameka won the girls' Under-12 category, getting by Hossana Prep's Shaeda Nickle 8-2, while the diminutive Roger Lyn of St Peter and Paul Prep showed off a big-time game as he got by Morning Star Academy's James Cruze 6-1, 6-0.

In other awards presented, Bicknell and Haughton were named the tournament's most outstanding players, Alexander Anderson and Phadra Kepple of Wolmer's were presented with sportsmanship awards and Carlos Philpotts of Immaculate Conception High was named the top coach.