Central suffers 6-1 loss to DeSmet in sectional

Central's quest for its first state final four appearance in boys tennis ended Friday with a 6-1 home sectional loss to DeSmet.

The Tigers won only one match, that coming at No. 6 singles as Josh Hubbard defeated his opponent 6-2, 6-3.

DeSmet rolled to all three doubles wins and to three singles victories without dropping a set. Two singles matches in progress were stopped after the Spartans had clinched the team win.

"DeSmet was a very good team," said Central coach Bud Craven, whose squad won its first state playoff match in four tries Tuesday by beating Eureka 6-0 in the regional round.

Central's season is not complete, however, as the doubles team of David Berry and Patrick Duffy will compete in next week's state tournament.

DeSmet 6, Central 1

Singles

No. 1: Doug Brightfield (D) def. David Berry 6-0, 6-1; No. 2: Dan Ott (D) def. Patrick Duffy 6-3, 6-1; No. 3: Brian Murphy (D) def. Robert Weir 6-2, 6-2; No. 6: Josh Hubbard (C) def. Blaize Berry 6-2, 6-3

Doubles

No. 1: Brightfield-Patrick Kella (D) def. Berry-Duffy 6-0, 7-5; No. 2: Ott-Murphy (D) def. Weir-Will LaFoe 6-1, 6-2; No. 3: Berry-Curt Silberberg (D) def. Hubbard-Brandon Gonzales 6-4, 6-2