Sports Correspondent

The 2007 girls’ tennis region was held at Lee County this past weekend. Perry Central’s Donna Strong was the number one seed, and the odds on favorite, going into the tournament, and was undefeated in the region this season.

Strong opened the tournament on top of her game, winning her first match 6-1 and 6-1 over Lee County’s Brittany Thorpe. Things got a little tougher in the second round as she dropped four games in the second set and came away with the 6-4 win. She then finished off June Buchanan’s Lauren Lucas 6-0 in the second set to take the match, and advanced to the championship.

In the championship match, Strong took on the region’s second seed in June Buchanan’s Alex Sizemore. The match started well for Strong as she quickly took the first four games in the first match, but things quickly began to go amiss.

With the first set all but in hand, Strong broke the strings in her racket, and had to go to a back up. She was able to pull out the win 6-1.

In the second set, Strong pulled a muscle in her back, and found it difficult to come over the ball on her forehand. She eventually lost the set 2-6, forcing a deciding set.

During the 10-minute break, Strong had to have a heating ointment put on her back and have the muscles massaged. After the break, she returned to the court, but with no better luck, losing the first three games.

With her “back” against the wall, Strong summoned all of her willpower and began her comeback. She went on to win six straight games to take the championship and advance to the state tournament (Sizemore also advanced).