By Kevin Eckleberry

Sports Editor

The LaGrange High boys’ tennis team will try to complete a McCluskey sweep today.

The Grangers are 2-0 in the state tournament at the McCluskey Tennis Center, and they’ll look to make it 3-0 when they host West Laurens at 4 p.m. today in a quarterfinal showdown.

The winner advances to Friday’s semifinals at the Clayton International Park.

The Grangers have been dominant through the first two rounds, crushing Cairo and Eagle’s Landing by identical 5-0 scores.

Today’s match figures to offer a bit more suspense, though.

West Laurens has made it through two rounds without dropping a match, and the veteran Raiders are in the state quarterfinals for the fourth straight year.

That the Grangers are on the doorstep of a return trip to the state semifinals is particularly impressive considering the top three singles players from a year ago graduate.

Freshman Jake Pauley has held down the No. 1 singles spot, Rohan Gupta is the No. 2 singles player, and Henry  Hughes is the No. 3 singles player.

All three players have been perfect in the region and state tournaments.

“We had big shoes to fill. Two of thsoe guys were two-year single splayers, and Cheney (Daniel) was a three-year player,” Hughes said. “We all had to step up.”

Experience isn’t a problem in doubles.

Jake Shambaugh and Parker Quinn, who make up the No. 1 doubles team, are seniors, and they’ve been playing together for two seasons.

Senior Glen Major has helped hold things down at No. 2 doubles.

James Jackson played with Major against Cairo.

Scottie McRae has also played doubles for the Grangers this season.

Gupta, Shambaugh, Quinn and Major will graduate, but don’t look for the Grangers to suffer much next season.

In addition to the talented players returning, some gifted newcomers are expected to join the team.

“We’ve got more kids coming up from the eighth grade that are going to be really good,” Pauley said.

There will likely be competition for spots next year, and Hughes is fine with that.

“It keeps everybody sharp,” he said.

For now, the Grangers are focused on 2009 and keeping their season alive.

“It’d be nice to get back to the final four, and maybe even the championship,” Hughes said.