LEXINGTON – The day started with an upset and ended with Jacks Lancaster fighting to the last points in defeat. His promising career extended one match further than the last two years at the KHSAA State Tennis Tournament.

Progress is all Lancaster wants in this learning experience.

The Greenwood freshman ended his season in the boys’ singles quarterfinals in a 7-6, 7-6 loss to Ashland Blazer senior Parker Clarke at Top Seed Tennis Club. Lancaster had a lead in both sets and took each into a 12-point tiebreaker with the fifth-seeded player in the bracket.

But to even reach that point, the freshman knocked off the tournament’s No. 3 seed, Michael Chou of Trinity, in the Round of 16.

Lancaster, who was listed in the ninth-seed grouping, went further than any area singles competitor since Will True reached the quarterfinals for Bowling Green in 2014.

“I was pretty impressed with how I played,” Lancaster said. “I was hoping to go in and make it a close match and I did. I was pretty satisfied.”

Lancaster and the Greenwood doubles team of Landon Gann and Parker Young reached Day Two of the tournament split between locations at Top Seed and the University of Kentucky’s Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center. Gann/Young lost in the Round of 16 to Henry Clay’s fifth-seeded team of Evan Duggal and Arthur Sultanov 2-6, 7-6, 1-0 (5).

That Gators duo and Lancaster will all return next season.

“It’s great for our program to not only get points up here, but now we’ve had two teams here on Friday and both teams will be back next year,” GHS boys’ coach Tim Dethridge said. “We’ll work hard in the summer and who knows, maybe we’ll have two teams here on Saturday for singles and doubles. That’s what we’re working for.”

Semifinal and championship appearances Saturday aren’t too far away considering Lancaster’s trajectory. The three-time individual Region 4 champion reached the Round of 16 each year as a seventh and eighth grader.

This year the freshman cruised through the first two rounds by dropping one game in four sets. Friday morning’s Round of 16 against Chou was much tougher. Lancaster won the first game 6-3, lost the second 1-6 and took the tiebreaker 13-11.

“I came into that match thinking I could win and I wanted to win,” Lancaster said. “I wanted to beat one of the top players, a three-seed. I was excited to come out there and give it my best.”

Lancaster had a three-and-a-half hour break before embarking on the longest match he said he’s played in nearly two years. Friday afternoon wasn’t the first time Lancaster and Clarke played. Greenwood visited Ashland Blazer during the season and the Wildcats senior defeated Lancaster in the inaugural meeting.

That helped Lancaster’s approach Friday, and the freshman jumped out to a 4-1 lead before Clarke rallied back. The senior forced a 6-6 tie and won the 10-point tiebreaker. Lancaster led the second set 4-3 before Clarke won two games and the set went to another tiebreaker the senior eventually won.

“I didn’t come in intimidated,” Lancaster said. “Last time I played him it didn’t go very well. I wanted to make a stand this time, make it a close match and maybe even win.”

Dethridge said he saw Lancaster grow a new level of mental toughness with his two matches Friday.

“Earlier playing the 3-seed Chou, who everyone expected to get into the semifinals, he reached down within himself without anybody else, said this was my match and stepped up to the challenge,” Dethridge said. “I really see the growth and his toughness and it’s been a great experience for him. Every year he’s built on where he’s placed. Hopefully we can build on that next year and get to Saturday.”

Bowling Green’s John Guthrie, the Region 4 runner-up, lost his third-round singles match Friday, falling 6-2, 6-1 to No. 4 seeded Paul Reynolds of DuPont Manual.{&end}