RIDGELAND – It was a matter of points. Brookhaven’s tennis teamused a balanced team effort Tuesday to win their first statetournament championship since 1978. The Panthers scored 12 pointsto edge runner-up Cleveland which scored 10 points at the RidgelandTennis Center. St. Stanislaus/OLA was third with 9 points.

“I’m tickled to death,” said BHS tennis coach Sally Perkins.”Our team really worked hard to win state. I didn’t want to tellthem ahead of time but I felt like we could come up here and winit.”

Winning wasn’t easy. Brookhaven landed three teams in Tuesdaymorning’s semifinals and all of them advanced to the finals. Alarge group of followers cheered for the boys doubles team ofStuart Misner and Judson Langston, the mixed doubles team of SamSones and Kim McBride and the boys singles representative, LaneLofton.

Misner and Langston dominated their bracket and didn’t lose aset in four matches. They defeated Bret Hutchison and Ben Powell inthe finals, 6-2, 6-2. Cleveland double faulted on match point.

“It was fun,” said Langston. “We were confident coming into thistournament.”

Langston and Misner are both sophomores. Misner won the Class 4Asingles title as a freshman and was moved to doubles this season inan effort to compile more points in team standings.

“I missed playing singles but I enjoyed doubles,” Misneradmitted. “The Lord has really blessed us as a team.”

Misner is ranked among the top 20 in Southern 16s. Many of hisweekends were spent on the USTA junior circuit playing singles.During the week he concentrated on doubles.

“Langston and I play well together,” said Misner. “We’ve grownto know each other’s games and signals and such.”

Their only loss this season was to a team from Madison Central.In yesterday’s semifinals they whipped Russ Johnson and ChrisPurdom of Laurel 6-0, 6-0.

Perkins said she appreciated Misner’s willingness to playdoubles. “Stuart was willing to sacrifice for our team and thatmeans a lot. He’s a great singles player.”

In boys singles, sophomore Lane Lofton of Brookhaven nearly wona championship. He beat David Routman of Cleveland 6-4 in the firstset. However, Lofton began having leg cramps in the second set andthe tournament trainer was called to help Lofton cope with thepain.

Routman won the second set 6-4 as Lofton courageously tried tocontinue. His father, Bill Lofton, massaged his legs between setsand he returned for the third set, Lofton collapsed behind thebaseline and screamed in anguish. He had to be helped to thesideline bench and was forced to retire.

Like Lofton, Routman had played a semifinals match yesterdaymorning. The Cleveland senior said he was unhappy with the shortrest period between matches. He plans to attend the University ofCalifornia at Berkley and major in physics.

“Lane wanted to win so bad,” said Perkins. “He had (Routman)where he wanted him.” In the semifinals, Lofton beat Chadwick ofOxford 7-6, 6-3.

In mixed doubles, Sones-McBride lost the first set 6-4 to theSt. Stanislaus team of Patrick Dennis and Sarah Carter. Theyrallied in the second set and led 4-0 before Dennis-Carterrecovered and won 7-5.

“We never could get on top,” said Sones, perspiring heavily andunable to mask his appointment. Sones is a junior and McBride is asenior who expects to play tennis for Co-Lin next season.

In the semifinals, Sones-McBride had defeated Mary Kyle Rogersand Chris Parker of Cleveland 6-2, 6-3.

Each match victory earned one point for Brookhaven. In Monday’sopening round, Katie Smith picked up a victory in girls singleswhile Allison DeHuff and Sadie Corban prevailed in girls doubles.Both teams fell in Monday’s quarterfinals.

Perkins said Brookhaven Country Club tennis professional DavidMisner had been instrumental in helping the team reach a higherlevel of skill. “We have a good young program and a good pro intown who really helps me out. This was definitely a teameffort.”