Tift tennis burns midnight oil to beat Camden

Published 3:00 pm Friday, February 14, 2025

TIFTON — It is not often that Tift County tennis finishes under the lights — or is the last sport to finish, but that was the case Thursday as they split with Camden County.

The Blue Devils won, 4-1, with Elijah Hellman of Tift and Tyler Klein of Camden being the last two men on the court. All three sets were long, Hellman winning the first 7-5, Klein the second 6-4, and the third by Hellman 7-6 (7-4). The last point ended at 9:22 p.m.

Rain caused the start time to be delayed and Tift only had access to some of its courts.

By the time Hellman and Klein wrapped up, Tift finished its soccer matches with Richmond Hill and the boys basketball team and cheerleaders returned from Valdosta and the Region 1-6A semifinals.

Not helping the time were the extended nature of other boys’ matches. Joshua Hellman won in three sets (3-6, 6-1, 6-2) as did the doubles team of Matthew Layfield and Seth Denham (5-7, 7-4, 6-3).

Jack Medina and Adam Beck won 6-2, 6-3 in the other doubles. Maitrey Patel fell at No. 2 singles, 2-6, 3-6.

Camden’s Lady Wildcats won all four girls’ matches Thursday.

Both doubles went to three sets: Madison Garner and Perrin Turner fell, 6-1, 1-6, 4-6 and Kate Carpenter and Kenyaria Morrow fell, 7-6, 1-6, 2-6.

In singles Sutton Sheppard played a close 4-6, 1-6 match. Camden won over Riley Griffin and Abby Lupo 1-6, 0-6 and 0-6, 0-6, respectively.