Adam Crookston defeats Jack Hibbard in a three set tie-breaker

PORTAGE| Even though Valparaiso had already won the sectional semifinal, it didn't stop Adam Crookston from backing down. He and Wheeler's Jack Hibbard had split the first two sets, and were heading for a third. They were the last match to finish Wednesday night, in a sectional semifinal that saw Valparaiso defeat Wheeler 4-1 and Portage defeat Chesterton 4-1.

In the longest match of the night, Crookston won  6-0, then Hibbard won 6-1.

"I think he (Hibbard) was hitting the ball harder (during the second set), and I was falling back more," Crookston said. "I was just getting nervous, after winning the first set 6-0, and after he won the first game (of the second set) things started getting into my head that I could lose this, but I stuck with it."

Crookston and Hibbard were tied 6-6 in the third set. Crookston was leading the tie-breaker 5-4, and rolled off two straight points to win.

"My legs were so tired, and I was starting to tense up," he said. "During the tie breaker I just loosened up. It basically took my team; they helped me. With them cheering in the background, it's a motivation. After a couple hits and you get the point, they cheer for you, so it's a great motivation."

Ben Kalish defeated Alex Dials in No. 1 singles 6-2, 6-1, and Marty Pochop cruised past Drew Heinold 6-0, 6-1. The No. 2 doubles team of Tyler Costas and Peter Williams defeated Mark Havens and Christian Sikoski 6-0, 6-2.

"I was really happy with our No. 2 doubles," Valparaiso coach Tim Shideler said. "It's a new combination. Tyler Costas has played there most of the season, and he played with Peter today. Peter's gotten better all year and it seemed to work out good today."

"I think we played more intensely, because we wanted to get off to a good start with each other," said Willliams, who played in his second varsity match of the season.

"We haven't had a whole lot of time to practice with each other, so it was nice to be able to play with each other," Costas said. "Peter did a good job at staying consistent and not giving up easy points, and that's really what we needed."

Wheeler's lone win came at No. 1 doubles. Jordan Long and Lucas Jessen won 6-3, 6-4 over Quinn Donnell and John Olejniczak.

The Vikings (15-2) will face Portage (12-5) in the sectional final Thursday.

At No. 1 singles Patrick Derr defeated Jack McCrum 7-6 (7-0), 6-3. Zachary Smith rallied to beat Trey Moffett at No. 3 singles 6-4, 6-0 after being down 4-3 in the first set.

The Indians beat Chesterton earlier in the season, but came out today with a different line-up.

Portage had lost its two top singles player and top doubles player from last year, and coach Gary Hayes said he was pleased with how the team played Wednesday.

No. 1 doubles team Tyler Soberg and Jeff McElfresh took it to a second set tie-breaker to defeat Max Kerr and Adam Scheerer 6-3, 7-6 (7-3). Shub Multani and Zachary Lundy cruised to a 6-3, 6-0 win against Remy Hoang and Ryan Sears.

"We're a much better team now than we were the first match of the year, and that's what you ask out of your team," Hayes said, "that they improve in the second half of the year."

Chesterton's Michael Clemens defeated John Fannin at No. 2 singles 6-4, 6-0 in their only win of the afternoon.

"We know what we're up against tomorrow," Hayes said. "What I told the team was since we have our top five guys back tomorrow, we play to win. I just want them to play a better match than the first time (against Valparaiso), because Valpo has a good team, and we know that."