Jemison’s boys tennis team qualified for their eighth consecutive state tournament in dramatic fashion.

Needing to finish second in their sectional tournament to qualify for state, JHS was tied with Dadeville behind St. James at the end of scheduled matches.

A best-of-three tiebreaker was set up with the No. 1 singles, No. 6 singles and No. 2 doubles positions.

Jemison and Dadeville split the singles matches, and so the team of Jake Long and Andrew Morton took the court for the decisive match about 8:30 p.m. on April 20—despite having begun their days with 8 a.m. matches.

“At least they had about an hour break,” coach Benton Morton said.

Long and Morton won 6-1, 6-3.

Long (at the No. 6 singles position) and Morton (No. 5) also brought home sectional championships, along with Jemison’s No. 3 doubles team of Cole Thompson and Nick Long.

“Everybody contributed—if they hadn’t we never would have had a shot,” Benton Morton said. “It was so exciting—just an emotional roller coaster.”

The Class 4A state tournament will be held April 29-30 in Mobile.