Sikeston's Chinwuko, Johnson finish 1-2 during Class 1 boys state tennis tournament

In this April 10 file photo, Sikeston's Brett Johnson hits a forehand in a high school tennis match against Festus at the Sikeston High School tennis courts. (David Jenkins/Standard Democrat)

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Sikeston’s Brett Johnson and Warren Chinwuko failed to place after losing their first round matches Friday during the Class 1 state tennis tournament at the Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield, Mo.

In Johnson’s first round match with Warrensburg’s Cory Conley, the senior managed to make it interesting. In the first set, Johnson fell behind 4-2 early, but rallied back and won the next two games to tie the set up at four apiece.

Conley wound up winning the final two games, though, earning a 6-4 victory in the process.

In this April 10 file photo, Sikeston's Warren Chinwuko hits a backhand in a high school tennis match against Festus at the Sikeston High School tennis courts. (David Jenkins/Standard Democrat)

In the second game, Johnson defeated Conley 6-3, to set-up the final set.

In the decisive game, Conley and Johnson went into a tiebreaker, but the Tiger was too much for Johnson in the end. Conley beat Johnson 9-7 in the tiebreaker and 7-6 overall in the set to advance to the quarterfinal round.

Chinwuko lost his first-round match to Kirksville’s Bennett Hoshaw in straight sets 6-3, 6-1.

Both loses put the Sikeston duo into the consolation side of the bracket, as Chinwuko took on Gabriel Swann of Trenton and Johnson faced Haydon Windsor of Fulton.

In the first round of consolation play, Chinwuko wound up tied at four before dropping the next two games to lose 6-4. The sophomore rallied in the following two sets, as he won both 6-4, 6-3 to pick-up his first state win.

Johnson also had an exciting first consolation match, as he also got down 5-2 early before winning the next three games and forcing a tiebreaker.

After winning in a tiebreaker, 7-3, and winning the set 7-6, Johnson finished off Windsor in the following set 6-1 for a sweep in straight sets. The win was Johnson’s second of his state career.

At 1-1 apiece in the tournament, both Chinwuko and Johnson geared up for their third matches of the day.

Chinwuko took on Angelo Vidal of Clayton, while Johnson faced Garrett Kincaid of Pembroke Hill, but both Bulldogs dropped their respective matches in straight sets to end their seasons. Chinwuko lost 6-0, 6-0 and Johnson lost 6-1, 6-0.