By Jim Thomas

Their scores are rapidly getting better and better. The Montezuma-Cortez High School boys tennis team is improving with each week, according to first-year coach Jeff Bollinger.

The Panthers competed well against both Grand Junction Central and Montrose on a trip to the north of here Sept. 24-25.

No. 3 singles player Billy Innis played his best match of the season with a 6-4, 6-4 win over his Central opponent.

"He played evenly with this guy. He was tough mentally. He led the whole way in the first set and played well. He got down 3-4 in the second set and then came back to win the next two games. He showed a lot character in not giving up. He beat him at the net," Bollinger explained.

No. 1 player Ivan Smith fell 2-6, 4-6 and no. 2 Jeff Anderson lost 0-6, 0-6.

In doubles, top team of J.C. Keetso-Troy Tanner fell in a hard-fought battle 3-6, 4-6. Kegan Moore-David Wilcken lost 1-6, 4-6. The Panthers forfeited the no. 3 contest. Nate Goff-Devin Perkins lost 2-6, 1-6.

"Keetso and Tanner played well at the net. They won a lot of points at the net. But they both were having problems with their serves. If these guys continue improving they should do well at Regionals (in a couple weeks)," he added.

The Panthers played better, Bollinger reported.

"Overall, I thought they all played fairly well against Central. They are progressing and getting better each match," he added.

The Panthers took on the Indians the following morning.

In singles, Smith fell 0-6, 0-6; Anderson 0-6, 1-6; and Innis 3-6, 6-7 (6-8). In doubles, Keetso-Tanner lost 2-5, 4-6; Moore-Wilcken 3-6, 4-6; Shawn Carey-Perkins lost 2-6, 2-6; and the Panthers forfeited the no. 4 match.

"Innis was in a tough match. He played good, but I’ve seen him play better. He was up 5-2 in the second set and then he found himself in a tie at 6-6. He got down 2-5 in the tiebreaker and fought back but couldn’t pull it out. Again, he showed a lot of character in not giving up," Bollinger noted.

The best doubles matches were Keetso-Tanner and Moore-Wilcken.

"I’ve seen them (Keetso-Tanner) play better. They were not as good as they should have been. Their serves weren’t bad but they did not hit the ball well with their ground strokes. As for Moore-Wilcken, they are learning to play together. They had some long games. Right now their lobs are hurting them," he added.