Center Grove’s Tyler Lane returns the ball during the state final against Brebeuf Jesuit.
Chris Williams | For the Daily Journal
INDIANAPOLIS
Center Grove coach David Beasley was satisfied his Trojans gave everything it had.
“These kids battled like I’ve never seen before,” Beasley said. “They battled their hearts out.”
No. 1 Brebeuf Jesuit just proved a little too much, edging No. 4 Center Grove 3-2 to win the state team championship Saturday afternoon at North Central. The Trojans (23-4), who hadn’t dropped a point in their first seven postseason matches, advanced by edging No. 6 Jasper 3-2 in a morning semifinal. Brebeuf shut out No. 15 South Bend Joseph 5-0 in the other semi.
In the championship, Center Grove senior Tyler Lane defeated Will Hutchinson 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 to tie the match at 2-2. But as Lane was leaving the court, Brebeuf’s Tony Tancredi completed a 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 victory over sophomore Yuvraj Dasari at No. 2 singles.
“It would have been nice if we found a way to get it done at No. 2 singles, but Tony Tancredi has played No. 1 singles almost the entire year,” Beasley said. “They flip-flopped right at the end of the season. Almost beating a guy that played No. 1 singles for Brebeuf was very impressive for a sophomore. We look forward to great things from (Dasari).”
Lane stayed alive in the state singles tournament.
“There were a lot of ups and downs in the second set; Tyler came out in the third set and played lights out,” Beasley said. “He hit the ball like he knew how to hit.”
Beasley said Lane (19-3) had been having some energy issues.
“Definitely, his energy went down in the second set,” Beasley said. “We got in the room and talked to him about the third set. But then he battled and showed a lot of energy. It wasn’t me or any of the coaches. Tyler just went out and crushed it.”
Lane has never lost to Hutchinson, a fellow senior.
“(Hutchinson) was really on in the second set and my energy dropped a little,” Lane said. “Then we had a 10-minute break and I had a good talk with my coach, and he talked me through what we were going to do in the third set. I came out with energy and I stuck to our game plan, and it worked out.”
Center Grove earned its other point at No. 1 doubles, where seniors Carson Bush and Daksh Patel stopped Ethan Birge and Anthony Suscha 6-4, 6-1. The Braves’ No. 2 doubles team of Andrew Held and Harry Stutler topped senior Russell Dean and junior Jack Dybwad, 6-3, 7-6 (9-7). At No. 3 singles, Brebeuf’s Owen Birge downed senior Quinn Smith, 6-2, 6-2
The Braves (24-1) also won 3-2 against Center Grove last month. Brebeuf won all three singles matches, but Lane was sidelined for that match with an illness.
The Trojans advanced by winning the rubber match with Jasper after the teams split their first two meetings.
“That was an unbelievable match against Jasper,” Beasley said. “Then for us to battle against Brebeuf the way we did, there is nothing else for us to ask for at that moment.”
Lane defeated Jasper’s Joel Levy 6-1, 6-2 and Dasari downed Elliott Rolwing 7-5, 6-3. The Trojans got the third point at No. 2 doubles as Dean and Dybwad rallied to down Braxton Brosmer and Cole Lampert 3-6, 6-3, 6-0.
Since the match was clinched, a super tiebreaker was played at No. 3 singles. Jasper’s Reece Fischer defeated Smith 6-4, 6-7 (2-7), 10-6. Center Grove’s No. 1 doubles team of Bush and Patel lost their first postseason match, losing to Eli Flick and Caleb Schnarr 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.
“That was a heartbreaker for them,” Beasley said.
Experience helped fuel the Trojans’ tournament run.
“It’s a very senior-heavy team and we’ll miss them,” Beasley said. “Hopefully, they’ve set a great example for the underclassmen.”
Lane said he was proud of the team.
“We worked very hard to get to this point,” he said.
