PRAIRIE VILLAGE ? When Free State High’s No. 2 doubles team of senior Eric Sheu and junior Bryan Maygers secured third place Tuesday at the Sunflower League tennis tournament, they didn’t know how big the victory was.

But that was according to plan.

FSHS coach Jon Renberger knew before the match started if the pair beat Olathe East’s Bryan Glenn and Garrett Jones, the Firebirds would lock up third place in the team standings — just ahead of the Hawks.

But Sheu and Maygers didn’t know until after the 8-4 win.

“(Renberger) tries not to tell us about that stuff,” Maygers said. “At the beginning of the tournament, he usually doesn’t want us to see the bracket or the individual matches because he wants us to focus.”

If Tuesday was any indication, that method works.

“It takes the pressure off us,” Sheu said.

The Firebirds beat Olathe East in three of four head-to-head matches, finishing third behind Shawnee Mission East and Shawnee Mission Northwest. Lawrence High finished tied for sixth with Leavenworth.

Free State’s No. 1 doubles team of seniors Eyad Safadi and Matt Schwabauer also placed third, beating Northwest’s Peter Varnuten and Adam Kramers, 8-4, while FSHS singles players Ben Cropp and Alan Martinez were fourth in their respective brackets.

But the doubles teams were the story.

“They both played well,” Renberger said. “One doubles was down in their first match, and came back to get into the semis. To not be satisfied with that and play well the rest of the day is really important.”

Both of Lawrence High’s doubles teams were 10th, but the Lions’ singles players came through with some impressive matches.

LHS senior Scott Elwell lost in the semifinals, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, against defending league and state champion Brett Binkley of SM Northwest in what proved to be the tournament’s best match.

Elwell, who lost to Binkley in last year’s finals, jumped to an early lead with his usual booming serve and by attacking the net, but Binkley adjusted.

“He just stepped up big in the second game,” Elwell said. “He started making shots and was a lot more aggressive. I made some unforced errors that hurt.”

By the third set, both players looked weary in the afternoon sun. Elwell rallied from a 5-1 deficit to pull within 5-3, but couldn’t force another game.

“I thought Scott moved him around well and kept him off balance in that first game,” LHS coach Dick Wedel said. “But I thought Scott’s serve let him down in that third game. He only made 10 of 28 first serves. He needs that serve against someone like Binkley.”

LHS senior Doug Raney finished sixth, opening with an 8-3 win against Leavenworth’s Chris Mamaux, before losing to Free State’s Martinez. Raney finished the day 2-2, but Wedel was elated with Raney’s effort.

“That’s what I expect out of him,” he said. “He tries to win harder than anybody I’ve got. I’m just delighted with how he played.”

Both teams have this week for practice before Class 6A regionals Monday at Kossover Tennis Center in Topeka.

“The bottom line is, they don’t want the season to end,” Renberger said. “It’s a chance to play for another week.”