The Lady Dark Horses tennis team won a grueling match Thursday against East Duplin, inching out a victory over the Panthers, 5-4.

The match was long and intense as both teams battled it out back and fourth for nearly four hours at the Dark Horse Tennis Complex. They also managed to do what no other team has done this season — hand the East Duplin Panthers their first conference loss of the season.

Catherine Smith, Isabella Faison and Cassidy Montgomery each won their singles matches. However, the Panthers managed to go ahead during doubles play, winning two court matches. The Horses tied it back up after the team performance by Kendall Spell and Rebekah Byrd.

With it all tied up at 4-4 it came down to the final match to decide the winner. Smith and Faison won their match by a 9-7 count to pull out the Horses victory.

With this hard earned win, the Dark Horses are now 5-4 on the season overall and 4-3 in conference. They take on Wallace-Rose Hill Tuesday on the road.

Clinton hands Panthers first conference loss

By Michael Hardison

Sports Editor

Reach Michael Hardison at [email protected]. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @SampsonInd.