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The best players on Utah's high school tennis scene generally don't need an introduction to one another.

While the rest know one another at least a little, Davis junior Whitney Turley and Lone Peak senior Leah Heimuli are doubles partners for USTA events.

But on Saturday they came to the court as competitors. And it was Turley, following in her older sister's footsteps, who earned the Class 5A girls' singles championship by beating Heimuli 6-3, 6-3 at Liberty Park.

Breezy Turley had earned the crown for the four previous years, and Whitney kept the trophy in-house for at least one more year. But it was difficult, given that Heimuli was the final obstacle.

"It was definitely hard. I had to play the ball and not the person, because it was too emotional to play my best friend," Whitney Turley said. "It was hard."

Given that the two — who have won several USTA junior events together — know each other's tendencies through numerous tournaments and practice sessions, Turley and Heimuli could aggressively attack weaknesses.

"It's definitely a combination of both executing her weakness and playing my game — I had to consider both," said Turley, who won in second singles last year before moving up to first singles.

Turley's Davis teammate, Eliza Hafen, took her place this year in taking the second singles crown.

Lone Peak, however, with finals wins in first doubles by Daniela and Anna Aaron as well as a third singles championship from Morgan Hall, took the overall team title in 5A. The Bingham duo of Lauren Fonda and Lexie Littledike won the second doubles bracket.

For Lone Peak, it was the Knights' fourth team championship in the past five years.

And Heimuli did her part, in the way of gathering points, by making it to the finale against Turley.

After the match, Heimuli had some time to process her thoughts on the rare singles contest between the pair.

"It was kind of weird being on the other side of the net from her, but she played a solid game. As heartbreaking as it was being my senior year, and I wanted to win a state championship, I was more than happy for her," Heimuli said.

And the Knights' senior and Darts' junior will continue to play doubles together.

"Just because she beat me doesn't mean it's going to end," said Heimuli with a laugh. "We're actually signed up for a tournament coming up. It'll just be a clean slate — no hard feelings. Even if it had been vice versa, me beating her, we'd be able to just move on." —

Results

No. 1 singles finals • Whitney Turley, Davis, def. Leah Heimuli, Lone Peak, 6-3, 6-3

No. 2 singles finals • Eliza Hafen, Davis, def. Annaliese County, Lone Peak, 2-6, 6-3, 6-1

No. 3 singles finals • Morgan Hall, Lone Peak, def. Kate Baird, Davis, 6-1, 6-2

No. 1 doubles finals • Daniela Aaron/Anna Aaron, Lone Peak, def. Tabby Jones/Hannah Dutson, Jordan, 6-0, 6-3

No. 2 doubles finals • Lauren Fonda/Lexie Littledike, Bingham, def. Ellie Slighting/Cami Gricius, Lone Peak, 6-3, 5-7, 6-2

Final team standings • 1. Lone Peak, 24; 2. Davis, 19; 3. Bingham, 8; 4. Jordan, 7; 4. (tie). Viewmont, 7.