For The Tribune
A Jackson County school will win the 2015 Seymour Sectional championship.
The Seymour boys tennis team pulled out a 3-2 win against Austin while Brownstown Central swept Trinity Lutheran 5-0 in a pair of semifinals matchups Thursday.
Owls eye title
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In a very close bout between the Owls and Eagles, the match wasn’t decided until the final point of the final event.The Owls number one doubles team of Josiah Rudge and Grant Handloser pulled out an impressive three-set win in a close match to give the Owls a 3-2 victory.
In the third set, Austin had leads of 1-0, 2-1, and 3-2, until the Owls broke serve and took a 4-3 lead, as both Rudge and Handloser put together some winning shots.
The teams traded points as the Owls kept the lead at 5-4 until Handloser closed the game out with an overhead slam that couldn’t be returned, giving the Owls a 6-2, 6-7 (4), 6-4 victory.
At No. 1 singles, Owls junior Alex Berry made it a short evening by winning 6-2, 6-2, against Austin’s junior Brison Turner.
The Owls number No. 2 doubles team of Sam Voss and Hao Li won their first set but fell to the Eagles Jacob Watts and Drew Buhr 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 to tie the team scoring at 1-1.
Next, at No. 3 singles, Owls freshman Adam Berry won his first set but fell to the Eagles senior Brady White, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2.
Finishing his third set at nearly the exact same time, Owls sophomore Ty McCory pulled out a 6-2, 4-6, 6-0 win against Eagles senior Matt Terry at No. 2 singles.
McCory came out strong in the third set, after several minutes of rest, and cruised to the win.
“Austin put up a tough fight and they competed well,” Owls coach Brad Emerson said. “Jackson County will have a champion tomorrow. We need to play better tomorrow.”
About two weeks ago, the Owls beat the Braves 3-2, and Emerson said he knows it’ll be a tough match.
The Owls have not won a sectional title since 2006.
Braves cruise through semis
The Braves used their experience to their advantage, with four seniors and two juniors, to beat a young Trinity team in the sectional semifinal Thursday evening.The Braves wanted to start out strong and take care of business early.
At No. 1 singles Braves senior Lute Lahrman defeated the Cougars’ Andrew Rodriguez 6-0, 6-0.
Lahrman now has 62 wins in his career, which ties Cole Borden for most wins in school history.
Braves senior Cole Brock won at No. 2 two singles, defeating the Cougars’ Jonathan Keith 6-1, 6-0.
At No. 3 singles Braves senior Kent Criminger was victorious against Trinity’s Tanner Prewitt 6-0, 6-0
With the victory, Criminger moved up to 59 wins for his career at Brownstown.
The Braves’ No. 1 doubles team of Riley Carlin and Sam Huff defeated Trinity’s Bailey Baker and Hunter Morgan 6-1, 6-1.
In No. 2 doubles play, Sy Zickler and Ethan Carlin defeated the Cougars’ Spencer Muhlback and Pierce McCammon 6-0, 6-0.
The Braves number two doubles team has 21 wins for the season, as they are 21-2, which also ties a school record.
Trinity coach Mark Voss gave credit to Brownstown and their experience.
Voss has a lot of players coming back next year, and is looking forward to them gaining experience.
Braves coach Ron Slaton, who is in his 15th year at Brownstown, said he was happy his team beat Scottsburg in the first round, won tonight, and will be going to the finals against Seymour.