FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. – The Shelbyville Central Eaglettes (11-3, 5-1) and Golden Eagles (13-1, 5-1) each suffered their first defeat in District 8-AA at the hands of Lincoln County on Monday night, 5-2 and 5-2.

The Eaglettes started off by dropping both doubles points, with Lilly Smith and Sophie Ray falling to Kate Pierce and Chloe Gibson, 8-3, while Addie Berry and Abby Thaxton fell short against Maelee Robertson and Ella Morris by the same score, 8-3.

In the singles matches, Shelbyville didn’t fare much better. On Court One, Smith gave the Eaglettes some life by taking down Pierce, 8-3, to get her team on the scoreboard, but Lincoln County quickly squashed any hopes Smith had given the Eaglettes by winning on Court Two, Three, and Four. Elesa Aldis took down Aubree Howell, 8-4, on Court Five, but it was too little, too late. Addie Berry fell to Gibson, 8-2, on Court Two, Sophie Ray came up just short against Maelee Robertson, 8-5, on Court Three, and Abby Thaxton couldn’t handle Ella Morris, losing 8-3.

The Golden Eagles suffered not just its first district defeat, but its first loss on the season overall despite earning a split in the doubles points. Henry Stone and Tucker Johnson persevered against Auldon Watt and Jackson Porter via a tiebreaker, 9-7, but Justin Spence and Tanner Johnson could not overcome Noah Gibson and Talan McMeen, falling 8-3. 

In the singles matches, Spence was the only Golden Eagle that was able to find a way to win. Spence took down Talan McMeen, 8-2, on Court Two. Henry Stone fell to Jackson Porter, 8-5, on Court One, and Tucker Johnson was quickly dispatched by Noah Gibson, 8-2, on Court Three. Tanner Johnson fell to Auldon Watt, 8-3, on Court Four, and Carter Watson came up just short against Aaryan Patel, 8-6, in a hard-fought match on Court Five. 

Shelbyville returns to district play for the final time in the regular season at Tullahoma on Wednesday afternoon starting at 3:30 p.m.