Indian Creek boys tennis tops Franklin in sectional

<p>For the Daily Journal</p><p>Indian Creek boys tennis coach Mike Perry figures it was a good idea to relish the success for awhile.</p><p>“To get a sectional win for Indian Creek is always a good thing,” Perry said.</p><p>The Braves won all three singles matches to edge Franklin 3-2 Wednesday in the first round of the Center Grove Sectional. The Braves (13-5) will play Whiteland in a semifinal at 4:30 p.m. today.</p><p>Greenwood and the host Trojans meet in the other semifinal.</p><p>Wednesday represented the rubber match between the Braves and Grizzly Cubs. Franklin won the first meeting 3-2 in the Johnson County tournament earlier in September. Indian Creek won the second meeting 3-2 last week.</p><p>“We won at No. 2 and 3 singles last time and at No. 2 doubles,” Perry said. “(Franklin coach Rusty Hughes) changed up his lineup and it favored us this time. The boys played their butts off like they have all year. They have had a great season and it’s an opportunity to get another win.”</p><p>Hughes said he made the lineup switch before the draw.</p><p>“We tried to make a lineup switch which was good for any time we played,” Hughes said. “Every team in the sectional had a winning record but us, so whoever we played.”</p><p>Franklin junior Silas Smith, who beat senior Jaden Schrougham at No. 1 singles in the first two meetings, was moved to No. 2 doubles. Sophomore Price Rucker, who played No. 3 singles for Franklin in the last meeting, moved to No. 1, where he lost to Schrougham 6-2, 6-4.</p><p>“It was a new player so I had to learn all of his skills, what he did well and what he was weak at,” Schrougham said. “So I just kind play counter on that.”</p><p>At No. 2 singles, Indian Creek sophomore Brendan Conner toped senior Luke Rockey 6-4, 6-4. Braves sophomore Aiden Pemberton won at No. 3 singles, topping senior Jackson Hedges 6-2, 6-2.</p><p>Franklin’s first doubles team, senior Jackson Klem and junior Samuel Auger, won 6-2, 6-2 over senior Jake Mitchell and junior Cass Mitchell. The Grizzly Cubs’ No. 2 doubles duo of Smith and junior Zion Parkhurst didn’t drop a game in beating junior Cole Allison and freshman Trent Volz. Klem and Auger will continue on in the individual doubles sectional.</p><p>“Our No. 1 doubles team gets to move on, so that’s a positive out of it,” Hughes said.</p><p>Now the Braves get a rematch against No. 22 Whiteland after a 5-0 defeat last week.</p><p>“It’s going to be a challenge, for sure,” Perry said. “Whiteland is a top-notch team so we know what we’re up against.”</p><p>Schrougham said he thinks the momentum of Wednesday’s big victory will carry into today’s match.</p><p>“If we lose, we lose,” he said. “But if we win, that would be great.”</p>