No. 13 Gulf Coast still alive for state title

No. 13 Mississippi Gulf Coast is two points behind Meridian in the MACJC/Region 23 Tournament men's team standings heading into Saturday's finals round.

The Bulldogs, which has clinched a trip to the NJCAA Tournament, have fate in their own hands after dropping three semifinals matches Friday. All of their matches are pivotal for the final standings.

"We've got six places in the finals," Gulf Coast coach Gary Bourgeois said. "They're all against Meridian, so we can flip those real quick if we get off to a good start.

The Bulldogs, who have 15 points, will have to win five to ensure at least a tie for the state and region titles. Meridian is in seven finals matches, and losses in the other matches would reduce the number of wins Gulf Coast needs.

The Bulldogs are No. 1 seeds in four of the showdowns. John Murphy (So, Mobile, Ala./McGill-Toolen) won his No. 3 singles match against Itawamba's Roberto Valadez 6-0, 6-2, and Evan Chubb (Fr, Biloxi/St. Patrick) won at No. 4 against Hinds' Darrell Rexrode 7-5, 6-3.

Reid Cudd (So, Wiggins/Stone) won his No. 5 singles match over Jones County's Erich Fischer 6-3, 6-2, and Chubb and Reid won their No. 3 doubles match over Hinds' Rexrode and Bryce Livingston 6-3, 6-2.

Austin Moore, who is seeded second in No. 6 singles, who his semifinal match over Jones' Daniel Tanious 7-6, 6-0.

MGCCC and Meridian met once during the spring.

"I think we're pretty solid," Bourgeois said. "We've won four of those matches, head-to-head. There were two tiebreakers, I think, so it will be a battle royal tomorrow." 

MACJC/Region 23 Tournament Semifinals

Meridian

Doubles

No. 1: (3) Juan Sebastian Osorio-Juan Pablo Pinilla (CL) def. (2) Travis Bell-Austin Vos (GC) 6-4, 6-2

No. 2: (2) John Murphy-Noah Rowell (GC) vs. (3) Ezra Blissard-Michael Crotts (ICC) 7-5, 7-5

No. 3: (1) Evan Chubb-Reid Cudd (GC) def. (4) Bryce Livingston-Darrell Rexrode (HIN) 6-3, 6-2

Singles

No. 1: (1) Juan Sebastian Osorio (CL) def. (4) Travis Bell (GC) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3

No. 2: (2) Lachlan Ivulich (MER) def. (3) Austin Vos (GC) 6-2, 6-3

No. 3: (1) John Murphy (GC) def. (4) Roberto Valadez (ICC) 6-0, 6-2

No. 4: (1) Evan Chubb (GC) def. (4) Darrell Rexrode (HIN) 7-4, 6-3

No. 5: (1) Reid Cudd (GC) def. (4) Erich Fischer (JC) 6-3, 6-2

No. 6: (2) Austin Moore (GC) def. (3) Daniel Tanious (JC) 7-6, 6-0

Saturday matches

Singles

No. 3: (1) John Murphy (GC) vs. (3) Zackery Presnall (Meridian)

No. 4: (1) Evan Chubb (GC) vs. (2) Callan Shinall (Meridian)

No. 5: (1) Reid Cudd (GC) vs. (2) Max Mauney (Meridian)

No. 6: (2) Austin Moore (GC) vs. (1) Will Swindoll (Meridian)

Doubles

No. 2: (2) John Murphy-Noah Rowell (GC) vs. (1) Marko Puric-Callan Shinall (Meridian)

No. 3: (1) Evan Chubb-Reid Cudd (GC) vs. (2) Ethan Clopton-Max Mauney (Meridian)

For more information on MGCCC's 10 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCAthletics on Twitter and BulldogLIVE on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.