After losing a close first set to Lewisburg’s Canyon Swartzentruber and Henry Heitzelman, they found themselves trailing 4-3 in the second set. That didn’t phase them one bit.

After all, they had just survived a winner-take-all third-set tiebreak in the semifinal match. The Bulldog pair never lost confidence, stormed back to win the final nine games of the match, and captured the district title, 4-6, 6-4, 6-0.

It was the Bulldogs’ first District 4 doubles title since the program reached the 1985 finals.

“It was just a combination of knowing we had nothing to lose, so we could put it all out there and push ourselves as much as we could. I think we were just more aggressive. W e weren’t trying to just get the ball in. We were actually going for things and just playing,” Hensler said.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Jersey Shore’s Saul Hensler and Ezra Paulhamus compete against Lewisburg’s Canyon Swartzentruber and Henry Heintzeman during the District 4 boys doubles finals on Monday at the Central PA Tennis Center in South Williamsport.

It wasn’t as if they took over the match immediately with quick games in blowout fashion. Rather, after losing most of the big points through the first part of the match, Jersey Shore turned the tide and started winning those big points themselves. The Bulldogs sensed a turning point when they won a game at 4-4 to put them up in the second set.

“I think when it was 4-4 and we won that point, they were just sitting down for almost a minute. I was like, ‘we just need to play’ because that’s all we wanted to do,” Paulhamus said.

They closed out the second set in the next game, and then played a marathon first game of the third set that featured over a half-dozen deuce points before they finally were able to pull it out to take a 1-0 set lead and take the wind out of the Green Dragon pair’s sails.

“It just helped us realize that we could do it and that we had the momentum to keep going,” Hensler said.

Jersey Shore won the next five games in short order to win the district championship. Teammate Ryder Fink won the district singles crown last week and the Bulldogs are still alive in the semifinals of the team tournament, as well, as they look for a sweep of all three district crowns.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Lewisburg’s Canyon Swartzentruber and Henry Heintzeman compete against Jersey Shore’s Saul Hensler and Ezra Paulhamus during the District 4 boys doubles finals on Monday at the Central PA Tennis Center in South Williamsport.

The Bulldog pair, who played three straight three-set matches to win the tournament, dating back to Saturday’s quarterfinal, had to survive a dramatic third set against Danville’s top-seeded due of David Sommer and Munjaal Mehta.

Despite not capitalizing on two opportunities to win the third set and the match at 5-4 and 6-5, with match points coming in the 5-4 game, Paulhamus and Hensler dug deep to win the tiebreak with ease.

It’s been a dominant year for Jersey Shore tennis, and coach Seth Hensler says that’s a testament to the hard work his program has shown.

“I think it shows the dedication of the boys, their families, and their support system, that they’re playing in the offseason, putting in the work, wrapping up blisters, and getting back on the court. It’s been several years of building the program and working on their part, and it’s all starting to come together,” Seth Hensler said.

In other area action, Montoursville’s Teli Bobotas and Gio Catino fell to Swartzentruber and Heitzelman, 6-7 (7-4), 6-3, 6-4 in the semifinals. Hensler and Paulhamus will advance to the state tournament, held at the Hershey Racquet Club, starting on May 22.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Lewisburg’s Canyon Swartzentruber and Henry Heintzeman compete against Jersey Shore’s Saul Hensler and Ezra Paulhamus during the District 4 boys doubles finals on Monday at the Central PA Tennis Center in South Williamsport.

DISTRICT 4 DOUBLES TOURNAMENT

SEMIFINALS

Jersey Shore’s Saul Hensler/Ezra Paulhamus def. Danville’s David Sommer/Munjaal Mehta 6-3, 2-6 7-6 (7-2); Lewisburg’s Canyon Swartzentruber/Henry Heitzelman def. Montoursville’s Teli Bobotas/Gio Catino 6-7 (7-4), 6-3, 6-4.

FINALS

Jersey Shore’s Saul Hensler/Ezra Paulhamus def. Lewisburg’s Canyon Swartzentruber/ Henry Heitzelman 4-6, 6-4, 6-0.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Jersey Shore’s Saul Hensler and Ezra Paulhamus compete against Lewisburg’s Canyon Swartzentruber and Henry Heintzeman during the District 4 boys doubles finals on Monday at the Central PA Tennis Center in South Williamsport.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Jersey Shore’s Saul Hensler and Ezra Paulhamus compete against Lewisburg’s Canyon Swartzentruber and Henry Heintzeman during the District 4 boys doubles finals on Monday at the Central PA Tennis Center in South Williamsport.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Jersey Shore’s Saul Hensler and Ezra Paulhamus compete against Lewisburg’s Canyon Swartzentruber and Henry Heintzeman during the District 4 boys doubles finals on Monday at the Central PA Tennis Center in South Williamsport.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Lewisburg’s Canyon Swartzentruber and Henry Heintzeman compete against Jersey Shore’s Saul Hensler and Ezra Paulhamus during the District 4 boys doubles finals on Monday at the Central PA Tennis Center in South Williamsport.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Lewisburg’s Canyon Swartzentruber and Henry Heintzeman compete against Jersey Shore’s Saul Hensler and Ezra Paulhamus during the District 4 boys doubles finals on Monday at the Central PA Tennis Center in South Williamsport.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Lewisburg’s Canyon Swartzentruber and Henry Heintzeman compete against Jersey Shore’s Saul Hensler and Ezra Paulhamus during the District 4 boys doubles finals on Monday at the Central PA Tennis Center in South Williamsport.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Jersey Shore’s Saul Hensler and Ezra Paulhamus compete against Lewisburg’s Canyon Swartzentruber and Henry Heintzeman during the District 4 boys doubles finals on Monday at the Central PA Tennis Center in South Williamsport.