For Center Grove junior Luke Embrey, sticking to the game plan made all the difference.
Embrey avenged a previous loss to Perry Meridian’s Blake Deaton in the Trojans’ 4-1 victory Wednesday over the Falcons in the Center Grove Regional championship. The Trojans (17-6) will play today’s Plainfield Regional winner between Brebeuf Jesuit and Zionsville in the Center Grove Semistate at noon Saturday. Center Grove and Zionsville are tied for 12th in rankings and Brebeuf is No. 15.
“This time I trusted my shots a little more and trusted my game plan the my coaches had put together,” Embrey said. “Last time I did my own thing.”
Embrey had lost to Deaton in straight sets in the Center Grove Invitational in late August. The Trojans edged Perry Meridian 3-2 in that match.
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Embrey, who noted that this was "probably one of the best matches I’ve ever played," said he likely took Deaton by surprise.
“He expected the same guy,” Embrey said.
Trojans coach Ivan Smith said Embrey executed the game plan well.
“He’s improved since the beginning of the year and he played him a lot different,” Smith said. “There were more things we asked him to do and he did them.”
Smith said figuring it could be another 3-2 match, he had emphasized to his No. 3 singles player and his two doubles teams to get off to quick starts.
“We didn’t want to give them any hope early,” Smith said.
The Trojans didn’t.
Dhrumil Patel dropped only one game in the first set in knocking off Ryan Wombles at No. 3 singles. At No. 1 doubles, Landen Finlinson and Logan James lost only one game in the second set against Van Thawng and Isaac Lian. At No. 2 doubles, Glenn Swaney and Carson Contos shut out Anthony Lin and Christenzio Salemi.
James and Finlinson have been playing together for just a few weeks. James, a transfer who had to wait to be eligible for varsity status, had played No. 1 singles for Blaine (Minnesota) last year. James first moved to Indianapolis and was granted limited eligibility to play at Center Grove, but then he moved into Center Grove’s district.
James said he needed an attitude adjustment.
“They told me to stop being a jerk,” James said of his teammates. “I can’t be full of myself. I have to be full of the team. It’s not about yourself, it’s about the team.”
Finlinson had been playing with Contos at No. 1 doubles before James was eligible for varsity.
“We’ve been able to bond over the course of the season,” Finlinson said. “He definitely came in with a different attitude than what he has now. I know everybody on the team loves him and glad he moved in.”
Perry Meridian got its lone point at No. 1 singles, where senior Sajin Smith topped senior Mason Runkle 6-1, 6-4. Smith will face Greenwood junior Ethan Gray at noon Saturday in the singles sectional. Gray advanced by edging Whiteland junior Quinten Gillespie 4-6, 6-1, 7-5 on Wednesday.
Gray (17-4) won three of his four matches against Gillespie (21-4) this season. This was the second meeting to go to a third set.
“I felt like he gave all he had in the first set,” Gray said. “In the second set, I could tell he was a little more tired and fatigued than I was. In the third set, I let up at the start; that’s why it was so close at the end. I relaxed because I thought he was tired, but he got a 10-minute break and obviously rejuvenated him.”
Greenwood coach Jeremy Runge said it’s always fun to watch Gray and Gillespie compete because it’s good tennis.
“They both grinded and Ethan was a little better today,” Runge said.
Smith has beat Gray in straight sets twice this season.
“He’s a pretty good player; that’s kind of an understatement,” Gray said. “I’m going to play my best and see what happens.”
