SELLERSBURG — Winning sectionals never get old.

Even when it has happened 23 years in a row, as it has now for Silver Creek tennis.

The Dragons swept Borden 5-0 on Wednesday and claimed another berth in the regional. Silver Creek will take on 11th-ranked Jeffersonville — a 5-0 winner over New Washington on Thursday for the Jeffersonville Sectional championship — in the first round of the Floyd Central Regional next Tuesday.

“It never gets old,” Silver Creek senior captain Andrew Eckert said. “It feels good every time.”

“We want to keep the streak going as long as possible,” Silver Creek coach Robert Briscoe said. “Before the sectional, I always talk about it. There are a lot of programs that would like to be in our shoes. I’m not sure if the kids realize how lucky we are and how good our program is.”

“I think most of us don’t realize how important [the streak] is,” Dragons’ No. 2 singles player Brennan Thompson admitted. “That is a lot of sectional wins, but it doesn’t get old.”

Silver Creek dropped just one set against an upstart Braves programs. Thompson got the Dragons off to an excellent start with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Borden senior Jared Sanders in a match that lasted only 35 minutes.

“He set the tone for everybody today,” Briscoe said of Thompson. “We needed someone to take ownership of leadership like that and give confidence to everyone around him. I hope he brings that kind of intensity into the regional. We are going to need that.”

“Before the match, I was focused on playing my game the best that I could,” Thompson said.

Jake Steele beat Josh Vollstedt 6-3, 6-3 at No. 1 singles and Eckert knocked off Hayden Casey 6-1, 6-4 for a fast Dragons’ singles sweep.

Braden McCartney and Gabe Bauer fended off Kamden Hurst and Elijah Frankin 7-5 in the first set before putting them away 6-1 in the second.

Anthony Less and Nick Sprinkle took the first set from Cody Craddock and Dylan Scott, 6-3, before Craddock and Scott fought back to take the second set, 6-4.

Less and Sprinkle then gave the Dragons a sweep with a 6-1 victory in the final set.

“The thing I talk about the most is attitude and effort,” Briscoe said. “If we have a good attitude and effort, we’ll be in most matches.”

Borden coach Cary Ooley said he was disappointed with the loss but not with how his team performed.

“I know we got beat 5-0 today, but I told the kids on the way home that it really didn’t feel like we lost 5-0,” he said. “It’s hard to lose, but the better team, unfortunately, did win today. I think it was a good experience for next year to build on.”

Ooley said his first season, as the Braves head coach, which ended with an 11-9 mark, was a learning experience for himself and his players.

“I think it took a while for them to get used to me, but a things progresssed, it went more smoothly as the year went on,” he said.

Silver Creek dropped a 5-0 match to Jeffersonville earlier in the season, but the Dragons believe they can pull off an upset against the Red Devils on Tuesday.

“I think we have a good chance,” Eckert said. “We’re going to have to play well, though.”

Briscoe said Jeff and Floyd Central are the regional co-favorites, but he hopes that match never happens.

“We know we’re the underdog,” Briscoe said, “but there are three matches in which we should be competitive. We’re hoping to make [Jeff] sweat a little.”



SILVER CREEK SECTIONAL

CHAMPIONSHIP

SILVER CREEK 5, BORDEN 0

    Singles — Jake Steele d. Josh Vollstedt 6-3, 6-3; Brennan Thompson d. Jared Sanders 6-0, 6-0; Andrew Eckert d. Hayden Casey 6-1, 6-4.

    Doubles — Anthony Less-Nick Sprinkle d. Cody Craddock-Dylan Scott 6-3, 4-6, 6-3; Braden McCartney-Gabe Bauer d. Kamden Hurst-Elijah Franklin 7-5, 6-1.