Prep badminton: Buchanan upsets top seed Clovis East for section title

Buchanan High, led by Komal Hombal and Lasya Gudipudi, dominated the second round of singles and defeated top-seeded Clovis East 13-11 on Friday for its third consecutive Central Section badminton title.

A year after defeating Clovis 11-10, also as a lower seed, the No. 3 Bears went 5-1 in the second round of singles behind wins from Lasya Gudipudi (21-6, 21-10) and Sravya Gudipudi (21-12, 21-16), Rachel Arkelian (21-16, 16-21, 21-8), Hombal (21-2, 21-5) and Alexandra Pagani (21-17, 21-14).

Hombal (21-7, 21-8) and Lasya Gudipudi (21-5, 21-7) had also won in Nos. 3 and 4 singles for the Bears, along with Erica Horton (19-21, 21-12, 21-12) at No. 5.

Buchanan’s doubles wins came from Lilly Moua/Krystal Nammavongsa (21-15, 21-18), Avena Cheng/Nari Chang (21-15, 21-11), Shaye Dubberke/Megan Mouanoutoua (21-8, 21-14), Emily Braun/Kaitlin Tang (21-14, 20-22, 21-17) and Jenna Guinn/Julia Pagani (20-22, 21-19, 21-15).

Clovis East received two singles wins from Doua Xiong at No. 6 and two doubles wins from the teams of Zoua Vang/Jillian Chilingerian, Zoua Thao/Yeng Thao and Jeanette Ceja-Silva/Jennifer Ceja-Silva.

This story was originally published May 6, 2016 at 11:37 PM with the headline "Prep badminton: Buchanan upsets top seed Clovis East for section title."