Tigers face Lafayette in sectional round

Central hopes to capitalize on home-court advantage. ~ Special to the Southeast Missourian

There were a lot of scenarios bantered about regarding the scheduling of the Class 2 state sectional tournament being hosted by St. Joseph's Academy.

The final decision, made Tuesday morning, gave Central one more home match. The Tigers will play Lafayette at 3 p.m. today in the sectional round.

"That was a total and pleasant surprise," Central coach Annette Slattery said. "I did not think that would be one of the scenarios."

Normally the even-numbered districts host on even-numbered years and that would preclude a home match in 2004 for the Tigers, who competed in District 1.

But Lafayette wanted to avoid any conflicts with its homecoming this weekend and suggested traveling south for the first-round sectional match.

"We are happy to stay home," Slattery said. "It is an advantage anytime you don't have to get into a van or bus and travel. It's also nice to play in front of the people who have supported you throughout the year and on the courts which you have played on and practiced all year."

The Tigers still hope to have their road trip as the winner of the Central-Lafayette match will play the winner of the St. Joseph's-Rockwood Summit match on Saturday. St. Joe's, which has made it to the championship match at state the last 11 years and won seven of them, is favored to reach state again.

"We don't know a whole lot about Lafayette," Slattery said. "I know they finished second in their district and had about the same number of points as we had. I am sure they are going to be a very tough opponent and the girls are hungry and fired up to play them. We would love to win that match and get a chance to play St. Joe's again."

St. Joe's defeated Central 6-0 in the first round of sectionals last year.

Lafayette has been the top public school team in the St. Louis area the past two seasons. The Lancers, who had never won the Suburban Conference Tournament before last year, defended their title this year.

They feature one of the best young players in the state, freshman Gabby Demos, who is nationally ranked in her age group. She posted an upset win in the district semifinal against Casey Miller of St. Joe's to make it to the MSHSAA singles tournament, set for Oct. 22-23 in Springfield, Mo.

Central comes into the 3 p.m. match today with a lot of confidence after winning the District 1 title by one-half point over Rockwood Summit and Lindbergh. The Tigers qualified a doubles team -- junior Dani Gross and senior Brett Ford -- for the state tournament. The Tigers were undefeated in 14 dual matches during the year, and the format for sectionals will be a familiar one with six singles and three doubles contests.

"We have played this format all the time with one exception against Nerinx Hall, and we are comfortable with it," Slattery said.

Lafayette, and most St. Louis-area teams, play a four singles and three doubles format with different players in singles and doubles. The sectional format, which Central used during the season, allows players to compete in both singles and doubles.

Slattery plans to use her normal lineup of Gross, junior Monica Toole, Ford, senior Liz LaFoe, freshman Sarah Ford and freshman Lindsey Pingel in that order in singles.

State qualifiers Gross and Brett Ford will play at No. 1 doubles. Toole and LaFoe, who missed qualifying for state by one match, will play at No. 2. Freshmen Sarah Ford and Pingel will play at No. 3.