NILES — It all came down to one match to decide the Division 4 regional tennis championship Thursday afternoon.

Brandywine and Schoolcraft were battling for the regional championship on a day when teams started play in Niles and Berrien Springs, but were forced to move indoors to the Southside Racquet Club in St. Joseph to complete play due to the weather.

The Eagles edged the Bobcats 28-26 for the regional championships, but both teams advance to the Division 4 state finals at Kalamazoo College beginning May 31.

“The regional championship came down to the last match of the day and we came up just short in a three-set loss,” said veteran Brandywine coach Joe Marazita. “Our kids fought hard all day as we had just as many champs (four) as Schoolcraft did, but they had just enough at the end to win it and they deserved it as they put players in all eight flights in the finals and we put in six.”

Brandywine had four regional champions — one in single and three doubles teams.

“Megan Schmidt (18-0) was just outstanding as she won in the finals 6-1, 6-0 and of the six sets she won, she did not give up a game in three of them,” Marazita said. “Our No. 1 doubles team of Maigon Conrad and All-Stater Ava Moody (22-0) also just cruised to be champs and only lost five games all day. Katie Stratton and Caitlin Stanner (No. 3 doubles 22-0) won a three-set tiebreaker and never gave up despite facing multiple match points to earn a hard-fought championship. Our No. 4 doubles (Mackenzie Jones and Destiny Patrolia 22-0) also won a three-set championship and played their best tennis of the year.”

Buchanan finished third overall, but missed qualifying for the state finals by a few points.

Natalie Riley and Hannah Vergon were runners-up at No. 2 and No. 4 singles respectively.

Dowagiac finished with two points, but did not have a player advance to the semifinals.

Marazita is already looking forward to preparing his team for state competition.

“If we can duplicate our effort from today at the state tournament, I think we have a shot at another top 10 finish like last year, but it will be a huge challenge,” he said. “Coach (Rich) Robbins and I have two weeks to prepare the team so I think we will be up to it.”