Allstate Sugar Bowl Operations Coordinator Austin Martin presents the regional champion trophy to the Jesuit Blue Jay tennis team. From left are Trey Hamlin, Brandon Beck, Jonathan Niehaus, Cristian Archaga, Jacob Niehaus, Luke Lingle, Graham Buck, Jack Steib, assistant coach Jay Combe ’83, Christian Lacoste, Andrew Ryan, and head coach Travis Smith.

Senior Brandon Beck and junior Trey Hamlin defeated senior teammates Jacob and Jonathan Niehaus in an epic three-set final at the LHSAA Allstate Sugar Bowl Regional Tennis Tournament on Tuesday, April 19, at City Park.

After dropping the first set 2-6, Beck and Hamlin rallied to win the final two sets 6-4, 6-4.

“That was some serious high school tennis,” said head coach Travis Smith. “I was in awe of some of the points. Even the Division 1 guys showing up to practice for tomorrow’s Sun Belt Conference Tournament were stopping to watch.”

Beck and Hamlin advanced to the finals by defeating Brother Martin’s No. 1 doubles team 6-3, 6-1 in the semifinals earlier in the day. The Niehauses beat teammates Cristian Archaga, a senior, and Jack Steib, a junior, to earn their spot in the finals.

In singles play, junior Graham Buck survived a tough semifinal, defeating St. Augustine’s Alan Miller, the No. 4 seed, by a score of 6-2, 5-7, 6-2.

“I was really proud of Graham in the third set,” said Smith. “A lot of guys would have folded up their tents after that second set (Buck led 5-2 and had eight match points). But Graham bounced back. He’s a fighter.”

In the finals, Buck lost 6-4, 6-2 to the top seed, Brother Martin’s Benjamin Chanes.

Jesuit captured the overall team title, holding off a stiff challenge from Brother Martin. More important, all eight Jesuit players entered in the tournament qualified for next week’s state tournament in Monroe.