Lewiston’s #3 singles player Caden Smith stretches to get to a forehand from Brunswick’s Luke Estabrook in an “epic” match that was the deciding match Tuesday that he pulled out a win to help the Blue Devils advance to the state championship at Colby College this weekend.

BRUNSWICK — A second consecutive Class A North boys’ tennis title came down to a standoff between Caden Smith’s legs and Luke Estabrook’s backhand.

Smith’s legs, and sound strategy, ultimately won out and earned Lewiston a second consecutive trip to the state finals with a 3-2 win over previously unbeaten Brunswick at Maine Pines Racquet and Fitness on Tuesday.

The Blue Devils (13-2) advance to Saturday’s state final at 10 a.m. at Colby College, where they will face the winner of Thursday’s A South final between Thornton Academy and Falmouth.

“It feels awesome knowing that you’re playing in a state championship,” Smith said. “I knew that my match could be the one that decided it and I just wanted to get that win.”

First singles Cole Ouellette and first doubles Asier Garcinuno and Ben Ferrence also picked up victories for the Blue Devils. 

Tuesday’s match was moved indoors from Colby due to rain.

Despite being the fourth meeting between the two teams (Brunswick won both in the regular season, then Lewiston won the KVAC championship), Smith had not faced Estabrook before because the latter had battled a stiff neck late in the season.

Smith, a sophomore, had seen Estabrook play, however, and had a game plan ready for the senior in their third singles match. He lost a tiebreaker for the first set, 7-5, rebounded to take the second set, 6-3, then rallied to win the final three games of the third set, serving an ace on match point for the 6-4 win.

“I went to his backhand,” Smith said. “I knew coming in that his backhand wasn’t as strong as his forehand, so I approached that as much as possible.”

“Our guys played some different guys. We knew that was going to happen, just focus in on your tennis and hit good shots,” Lewiston coach Tom LeBlond said. “As it got to the third set, Caden didn’t really hit any winners, but just kept the ball in play. He was moving really well on the court, from side to side, and kept a couple that it looked like Luke had as putaways in play, and that’s key.”

Another difference for the Devils was the win by Garcinuno and Ferrence over Jackson Gordon and Sawyer Nicholson, 6-3, 6-1. 

“They had lost to those guys all three times this year, and they were just really determined, really focused,” LeBlond said. “On the right day, we played the best tennis, especially our first doubles.”

Ouellette defeated Dasol Kim, 6-3, 6-1, his second win in a row over his fellow senior after dropping their first two meetings.

“I think my first serve percentage was high, so I just tried to use those to put as much pressure on him as I could,” Ouellette said.

Brunswick (13-1) got wins in second singles by Lincoln Sullivan, who defeated Joe Bisson, 6-3, 6-4, and second doubles, where Wyatt Slocum and Manuel Asens outlasted Sam Frechette and Ben St. Laurent, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

“Tom LeBlond has put together a really formidable team,” Brunswick coach Sewall Janeway said. “Third singles was an epic high school tennis battle. I give Caden credit for getting to every ball that Luke put into the corners, put on the lines, every serve that Luke smashed. It was good tennis.”

Lewiston will have a bit more rest than whoever emerges from the South going into the state final, although the Devils’ seniors are graduating on Friday night. 

“We’ll practice (Wednesday) and continue having fun. That’s our motto,” LeBlond said. “We just go out and have some fun and tell them you’ve always got to compete at every practice. We know Falmouth is a really strong team with a lot of kids that play year-round, but we’ll see what happens.”

Lewiton’s #1 singles player Cole Ouellette returns a backhand against Brunswick’s Dasol Kim during Tuesday’s championship match in Brunswick.Lewiston’s #2 singles player Joe Bisson digs out a drop shot during his match agasint Brunswick’s Lincoln Sullivan.Lewiston’s #2 doubles player Ben StLaurent hits a forehand agasint Brunswick during Tuesday’s match in Brunswick.Lewiston’s #2 doubles player Sam Frechette hits a forehand agasint Brunswick during Tuesday’s match in Brunswick.Lewiston’s #1 doubles player Asier Garcinuno sets up for a backhand return against Brunswick during Tuesday’s playoff match.Lewiston #1 doubles player Ben Ferrence returns a shot during Tuesday’s match against Brunswick.Lewiston’s Cole Ouellette puts a light touch on a backhand to drop it over the net for a winner during his #1 singles match agasint Brunswick’s Dasol Kim. Copy the Story Link