By Cort Reynolds

PORT CLINTON – Three tennis players from Bluffton High School competed in the Div. II boys district tournament indoors at the Tennis One complex in Sandusky on Wednesday, May 21.

Slated to be held outdoors at Port Clinton, the tournament was moved inside due to inclement weather.

Pirate senior Branson Hilty lost his first round match to Bryan senior Landen Bassett 6-2, 6-1 to be eliminated from the tournament.

Bassett was the top seed in their quarter of the 16-player draw, having won the sectional title at Bryan. Bassett won his next match 6-3, 6-1 to advance to the district semifinals Saturday.

The Pirate duo of Grady Coonfare and Isaiah Kohli also lost their first round doubles match to the Ottawa Hills junior tandem of Sahil Parikh and Ian Marzano to be ousted from the tournament.

The Bluffton team battled but lost a close two-set match 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) after a second-set tiebreaker. The Ottawa Hills duo had won the Bryan sectional title and was one of the four number one seeds in the 16-team draw. They then lost in the district quarterfinals.

Singles or doubles teams need to finish in the top four at districts to advance to the state meet in Mason.