Jay short of sectional title

The Patriots were looking to go back-to-back for the first time in more than a decade.

Union City was chasing just its fourth title overall.

The defending champions came up just a bit short.

A pair of Patriot brothers were unable to rally as the host Jay County High School boys tennis team fell to the Union City Indians 3-2 Thursday in the sectional championship match.

“Give Union City credit, that’s where the credit goes,” said first-year JCHS coach Donald Gillespie, whose team ends the year 11-8 and short of winning back-to-back sectional titles for the first time since claiming three in a row from 2005 through ’07.

“They beat us,” he continued. “Not going to make any excuses; I could say we didn’t play well, but the reason you don’t play well is someone else plays better.

“There are no excuses to give.”

Union City, which won its first championship since 2017, advances to the regional semifinal Tuesday at Marion.

With wins at No. 2 and No. 3 singles, Jay County held a 2-1 edge over the Indians leaving only the doubles matches to decide the outcome.

Brennan Hoggatt and Corbin Richards handed Jay County’s No. 2 doubles team of Gage Sims and Luke Muhlenkamp a 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 loss to even the overall score, with the sectional title hinging on the No. 1 doubles match.

Union City’s Zackary Fulk and Parker Kerns had won the first set 6-2, but brothers Gavin and Sam Myers responded to win the second by a 6-4 margin.

The Myers brothers were in an 0-2 hole before winning three games in a row. The Indian duo answered by winning three straight games of their own for a 5-3 advantage.

Facing elimination, Sam held his serve despite losing the first point, and the match headed to a 10th game with the Indians ahead 5-4.

With each winning point, Gavin let out a holler while younger brother Sam was more subdued. Fans in the stands cheered boisterously in support of both sides.

Jay County’s top tandem won the first two points, seemingly en route to tying the set.

But Fulk and Kerns took three straight points, and Sam’s strike at net hit twine to end the match.

“They knew their season was on the line,” Gillespie said of the pressure put on the brothers. “I’m very proud of them. (I’ve) been in that situation; that is not an easy situation when everybody is watching … I don’t think that affected them. I think they played through it. I think they sort of fed off the crowd.

“Our team stood behind them at all times.”

Cousins Abraham and Simon Dirksen earned the Patriots’ only two wins of the night. Abraham, a sophomore, topped Braydon Hoggatt 6-2, 7-5, at No. 2 singles, while junior Simon defeated Jude Connor 6-2, 6-3.

“They’re just consistent,” Gillespie said. “I was expecting those two wins. I had three spots I was expecting to win from — I got two of them, unfortunately I couldn’t find the third for us tonight.”

At No. 1 singles, JCHS senior Crosby Heniser was his own worst enemy. His opponent, Owen Dowler, didn’t do anything spectacular in terms of his play. He relied heavily on his backspin backhand and forced Heniser into making errors. Dowler won, 6-0, 6-4.

Under Gillespie’s tutelage, Jay County had won four straight matches at one point this year and defeated each of its sectional rivals during the season, including a 5-0 shutout of Union City. The Patriots had also won their last three matches prior to the loss in the sectional final.

“I feel really bad for the two seniors,” Gillespie said, referencing Gavin Myers and Heniser. “It’s been enjoyable. When you’re dumped in here (to coach) a week before the season, there’s not a whole lot I can do with them other than get them ready and teach them what I know.

“They were always ready to learn. I wouldn’t trade the last two months for anything.”