5 big things from Thursday's postseason action

Blackman knocked off Oakland in the Region 4-AAA finals and Central Magnet shut out Merrol Hyde Magnet 3-0 in region soccer finals Thursday, setting up Saturday's sectional battles.

Meanwhile, Siegel's boys tennis team punched their ticket to the team state tournament with a sectional win over Cleveland Thursday.

Here are five big things from Thursday's postseason action:

Trifecta

Blackman completed the trifecta with Thursday's 3-1 overtime win over Oakland in the region finals.

The Blaze (12-2-2) have now won the District 7-AAA regular-season title, the district tournament title and region tournament title.

One big obstacle looms as the Blaze will play host to Cookeville Saturday evening in the Class AAA sectional. Winner goes to state.

Blackman will hold graduation earlier that afternoon.

Fasten the Buckley

Luke Buckley had a huge night for Blackman, scoring two of the three goals for the Blaze. He was close to a hat trick.

Buckley's second goal broke a 1-1 tie in the first overtime period. He later broke free on a one-on-one opportunity with Oakland keeper Jakob Hurst, but was called for offsides.

Blackman did tally a third goal, however, when Kobe Srisorath found the back of the net late in the second OT period.

Oakland's lone goal came in the 72nd minute by Gerry Esquivel that helped send the game into OT.

TSSAA spring sports statewide sectional schedule

Best served warm

Just a week ago Central Magnet was forced to settle for a 2-1 loss to Merrol Hyde Magnet in the District 8 A-AA finals after lightning forced cancellation of half of the contest.

Thursday night the teams met again in the Region 4 A-AA finals and played an entire game, and the Tigers had no problems in a 3-0 victory.

The win puts Central Magnet at home Saturday in the Class A-AA sectional against Loudon at Siegel Park.

Sharing the wealth

Luis Sanchez scored two goals and Cole Yoders added one in Central Magnet's win over Merrol Hyde Magnet.

Jacob Apigian assisted the first goal of the game on a corner to Yoders while Nick Hamlett assisted the third goal to Sanchez.

State bound

Siegel's boys tennis team defeated Cleveland 4-2 in the Class AAA team tennis sectional Thursday to advance to next week's state tournament.

Hussain Alzubaidi and Ryan Jacobs both won in both singles and teamed up in doubles for a victory to lead the Stars. Chadwick Daugherty also won in singles.

The Lady Stars suffered a 4-2 loss to Soddy-Daisy in the sectional.

Savannah Manti and Heather Kounthapanya each won singles matches for the Lady Stars.

Reach Cecil Joyce at cjoyce@dnj.com or 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Cecil_Joyce.