BROWNSTOWN
The Brownstown Central boys tennis team played a sectional opponent, Austin, just hours before the Seymour Sectional draw was announced Monday.
Despite a pair of hard-fought matches at No. 3 singles and No. 1 doubles, the Braves fell 3-2.
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At No. 1 singles, Braves senior Lute Lahrman bested Brison Turner 6-1, 6-1 in a dominant performance.
With his victory, Lahrman has the second-most career wins in Braves tennis history at 61.
Cole Borden holds the title for most career wins at 62.
In 2014, Borden set the mark by picking up wins in the sectional before falling in regional play.
The No. 2 doubles team of junior Sy Zickler and freshman Ethan Carlin didn’t give up a game in a 6-0, 6-0 win against the Eagles’ Jakeb Watts and Drew Buhr.
In the No. 1 doubles spot, Braves senior Riley Carlin and junior Sam Hoff were able to keep their first set close as they took an early 3-2 advantage.
However, the Eagles’ Kenton Embry and Tanner Craig managed to get a break and hold serve to go up 5-4, before coming away with a 6-4, 6-3 win against the Brock.
Down 5-2 in the second set, at No. 3 singles, senior Kent Criminger battled back with a break and hold to narrow the deficit to 5-4.
Following a series of deuces, the Eagles’ Brady White held serve to beat Criminger 6-4, 6-4.
Braves senior Cole Brock was able to take a 5-4 lead in the first set against Matt Terry, but fell in a tiebreaker before dropping the second set 6-1.
Brock, Riley Carlin, Criminger, Lahrman and team manager Madison Persinger were honored before the match on senior night.
The Braves finished their regular season at 18-7.
“18-7 is a nice season for us,” Slaton said. “It’s not the 20 we wanted, but it’s solid. Our seniors have had four nice winning seasons.”
Wednesday, the Braves will play Scottsburg in the first round of the Seymour Sectional.
“Seymour, Scottsburg, Austin and us could win it this year, I think,” Slaton said. “All we have to do is figure out a way to win another spot. I don’t think we’re ever supposed to win a sectional. Well, a bunch of our kids work hard and get out and play. We have a chance. The most vital part that we have is the heart inside. My kids have a tremendous amount of heart and keep playing hard.”