LOOGOOTEE, Ind. — Postseason tennis took center stage across the region this week as the IHSAA boys sectional tournament got underway, highlighted by thrilling court battles, individual milestone records, and a rivalry championship match in Loogootee.

Host Loogootee kicked off tournament action with a hard-fought, opening-round victory over Paoli, clawing out a 3-2 decision to earn a spot in the sectional final. The Lions set the tone behind strong singles performances from Cooper VanHoy, who secured a 6-1, 6-2 victory at the No. 1 spot, and Knox Jeffers, who rolled to a 6-3, 6-1 win at No. 3 singles.

Paoli stayed within striking distance after Grayson Kluesner dropped a tight 5-7, 4-6 contest, and the No. 1 doubles pair of Emmett Graber and Gabe Walton fell in a battle, 6-7 (5-7), 3-6. The decisive third team point came courtesy of the Lions’ No. 2 doubles team, as Carter Downey and Reed Brittain took control for a 6-2, 6-3 triumph.

The victory advanced Loogootee to the championship round against perennial power Barr-Reeve, which entered the final fresh off a 5-0 sweep of Pike Central. In that opening-round match, the Vikings received singles sweeps from Eli Ash, Daniel Underwood, and Jaxson Knepp, while Grant Armes and Kierson Lengacher joined Connor Stoll and Collin Graber in completing the doubles sweep to pick up their 21st win of the season.

In the championship round, Barr-Reeve captured the sectional crown over the host Lions, improving to 22-2 on the year to celebrate another sectional championship title. The tournament was capped by a historic milestone for Barr-Reeve’s Kierson Lengacher, who recorded his 80th career victory over the two-day stretch, surpassing Xavier Meiring’s program record set just last season.

Elsewhere in sectional action:

• Linton Sectional: North Daviess edged Sullivan 3-2 to advance to the finals against Bloomfield. Carson Loheider won 6-3, 6-0 at No. 3 singles, and Koen Stoll added a 6-3, 6-3 win at No. 1 singles. With the match tied 2-2, the No. 2 doubles duo of Charlie Schulte and Tristan Wagler rallied from a 2-5 deficit in the second set to win five straight games, clinching the team victory with a 6-3, 7-5 win.
• Vincennes Lincoln Sectional: Washington fell to South Knox 4-1. Josh Meredith provided the Hatchets’ lone victory at singles, winning 6-0, 6-2 to keep his season alive in the individual tournament. Caleb Bochie and Wyatt Barber dropped their singles matches, while the doubles teams of Leyton Welsh/Brody Armes and Owen Skomp/Alex Barber were eliminated. In the second semifinal, Vincennes Rivet edged Vincennes Lincoln 3-2, with Lincoln’s Carter Johnson advancing into the individual singles tournament.