Munster tennis players Rogers and Vavilala keep composure while in pressure cooker

Talk about out of the frying pan and into the fire.

HILLARY SMITH: Factor in the town tradition

By April, high school sports fans are going to be well-versed in the term "tradition factor."

Class 3A class

Benton Central coach David Baxter, left, takes out his starters with 13 seconds remaining in the Class 3A semistate game at Crown Point. The Hamilton Heights players hugged the starters and congratulated them on their season.

Fort Wayne Canterbury's Darby Maggard

Fort Wayne Canterbury's Darby Maggard defends against Lafayette Central Catholic's Emily Tharp during semistate play Saturday at Crown Point.

Bailey Farley celebrates Fort Wayne Canterbury's semistate win

Bailey Farley celebrates Fort Wayne Canterbury's semistate win over Lafayette Central Catholic on Saturday at Crown Point High School.

Girls basketball semistate

Sarah Cancialosi, a Grimmer Middle School teacher, checks tickets Saturday morning before the Class A girls basketball semistate game between Lafayette Central and Fort Wayne Canterbury at Crown Point High School.

Fort Wayne Canterbury's Aaliyah Gaines

Fort Wayne Canterbury's Aaliyah Gaines looks to shoot during the first half of Saturday's semistate at Crown Point High School.

Fort Wayne Canterbury's Darby Maggard

Fort Wayne Canterbury's Darby Maggard looks to get off a shot while Lafayette Central's Emily Burks defends in the final seconds of the first half of Saturday's girls basketball semistate at Crown Point High School.

Girls basketball semistate

Haley Stilley, 16, second from right, and Katija Tarailo, 17, work as ushers Saturday at Crown Point High School during the girls basketball semistate.

Fort Wayne Canterbury's Bailey Farley

Fort Wayne Canterbury's Bailey Farley drives to the basket and draws a foul from Lafayette Central's Emily Tharp in the first half of Saturday's girls basketball semistate at Crown Point High School.

Fort Wayne Canterbury's Katherine Smith

Fort Wayne Canterbury's Katherine Smith drives in for a jumper against Lafayette Central Catholic's Angela Tharp in the first half of Saturday's semistate at Crown Point High School.

Crown Point High School host girls semistate basketball tournaments

Crown Point High School host girls semistate basketball tournaments Saturday for Class A and 3A teams. Lafayette Central Catholic played Fort Wayne Canterbury in the morning game, and Hamilton Heights took on Benton Central in the afternoon.

Benton Central's Kaitlyn Shields

Benton Central's Kaitlyn Shields draws a foul from Hamilton Height's Maranda Pennington while shooting a jumper during the first half of the Class 3A semistate game Saturday at Crown Point High School.

Scouting area girls soccer regional

Class 2A

Scouting area boys soccer semistates

Class 2A

Marian Catholic pitcher Brett Lilek

Marian Catholic pitcher Brett Lilek did not allow an earned run in the postseason as he helped lead the Spartans to the Class 3A state title. He struck out 11 Nazareth Academy batters in the state semifinals and 36 total in the postseason, earning The Times Player of the Year honors.

Hebron's Kyle Joyce

Hebron's Kyle Joyce dives back into first before Northfield's Joseph Ross can get the ball to make the tag during Saturday's Class 2A semistate.

Hebron's Kyle Joyce rejoices

Kyle Joyce rejoices after crossing home plate in the top of the ninth inning, giving Hebron a 4-3 lead over Northfield in a Class 2A semistate on Saturday afternoon in South Bend. Northfield scored twice in the bottom of the inning to win 5-4.

Hebron's Damon Wallace slides

Hebron's Damon Wallace slides under the tag of Northfield's Austin Keen at second base during Saturday afternoon's Class 2A semistate championship in South Bend.

Hebron's Mike Mikulich consoles Cody Hayes

Mike Mikulich consoles his teammate Cody Hayes after Northfield scored the winning run on an error in the bottom of the ninth inning Saturday afternoon in a Class 2A semistate championship in South Bend.