BECK COLUMN: Hilton Head Prep SCISA title favorite

In a surprise, Hilton Head Prep is the top team in SCISA's Class AAA girls tennis entering this coming week's state playoffs.

But don't overlook three-time defending state champion Ashley Hall or two-time state runner-up Porter-Gaud, even though the two local teams won only one of four combined matches against Hilton Head Prep in the regular season. The Dolphins' only loss came against Ashley Hall, which dropped two 5-4 decisions to Porter-Gaud and one match to Hilton Head Prep.

Porter-Gaud has had a great season other than one nightmarish Tuesday two weeks ago, when coach Bryan Burke split up his team to play matches against both Hilton Head Prep and weak-sister Hilton Head Christian. The Cyclones lost both road matches as they played what might be considered their "B" team against the Eagles.

In addition to that clay-court loss to Hilton Head Prep, Porter-Gaud also lost to Hilton Head Prep at home on hard courts when star No. 1 Mi'Kola Cooper didn't play.

Burke feels good about his team's chances in the playoffs for two reasons: "We haven't lost on hard courts all season with a full lineup ... last week was the first time we've ever beaten Ashley Hall in doubles." The 2-1 doubles decision came in Wednesday's 5-4 victory over Ashley Hall.

Ashley Hall junior No. 1 Narni Summerall, however, reversed her earlier loss to Cooper with a 10-8 third-set win and holds a 2-1 edge over Cooper for the season. Showdown No. 4 should come Friday in Sumter in the semifinals.

Hilton Head Prep's young team has crashed the usual Porter-Gaud and Ashley Hall state playoff party, turning this year's playoffs into a three-team race. One thing is for certain: The local rivals won't meet in a third straight state final. With three region losses each, Porter-Gaud and Ashley Hall appear headed for a playoff meeting Friday at 2 p.m.

Upper bracket top seed Porter-Gaud will open its bid at home on Wednesday against Pinewood Prep if Pinewood wins its home playoff match on Monday against Robert E. Lee or Florence Christian. No. 2 upper seed Ashley Hall opens at home in Wednesday's quarterfinals against Monday's Heathwood Hall- Orangeburg Prep winner.

Hilton Head Prep, whose lone senior plays No. 5 and is loaded with young talent, is the lower bracket top seed.

Holly Hill's year?

Holly Hill Academy coach Miriam Bessent is excited about the coming week and the prospects of winning a first SCISA Class AA state championship after a regular season that saw her team lose only to Class AAA Wilson Hall. "I have four seniors this year, so if we are going to win our first state championship, this is the year," the 10th-year Holly Hill coach said.

Holly Hill scored a pair of one-sided wins over two-time defending state champion Colleton Prep in the regular season, a big swing from the 2010 state title match when Sarah McDonald and Colleton Prep cruised by Holly Hill, 5-1. Holly Hill is led by seniors Morgan Cantley and Tressa Hutto at the top two positions, with Hutto going unbeaten at No. 2.

While Holly Hill is the top seed in the AA lower bracket and has a first-round bye, Colleton Prep hosts Charleston Collegiate in the playoffs on Monday.

CPTL finale at Farmfield

Regular season champion Atlantic Shield and O'Brion's will clash in next Friday's 6:30 p.m. Charleston Pro Tennis League championship match at Charleston Tennis Center.

In Friday's regular season wrapup at Wild Dunes during the Lowcountry Tennis Association's annual party, Atlantic Shield defeated LCTA, while O'Brion's turned back HSI to nail down second place in the league. HSI finished third and LCTA took fourth place in the four-team league.

Notes

South Carolina's "A" team defeated the College of Charleston's "A" team in the final of the six-team Tennis on Campus college tournament at Charleston Tennis Center.

--Jared Pratt won his second straight boys 12 Bullfrog singles title in Cary, N.C., beating the top seed in the final.

--Connor Clements took third in boys 18 at the Bullfrog event in Raleigh.

Reach James Beck at jamesbecktennis@gmail.com. See his columns on pro tennis at ubitennis.com/english.