Omaha ö Like The Last Temptation of Christ and Dan Quayle, the East boysâ tennis team has been the target of critics this fall. Unlike the movie and the vice-presidential candidate, the Spartans found a way to silence them Friday ö by bringing home a Class A state championship trophy. "There were a lot of critics during the season who didnât think we could handle pressure after losing a couple close meets and that we needed to change our lineup," East coach Jeff Hoham said after his team won the schoolâs first boysâ state tennis title by a 43 and a half- 38 margin over defending champion Southeast. "We had our ups and downs and we couldâve packed it in earlier this season. We had plenty of valleys, but we peaked at the right time of the season." The peak didnât include any state champions as no. 1 single player Brad Bernthal and the no. 2 doubles team of Mark Jones and Greg Lundstrom lost in the finals. The no. 1 doubles team of Rick Stempson and Mark Dynek a substitute for injured Andy Stock and no.2 singles player Spencer Illlsabeck lost in the semifinals. Both finished third with wins ion the consolation finals. A fired-up Shane Jensen of Kearney topped Bernthal 6-2, 6-2 in the finals. The unseeded Bernthal reached the finals with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over top-seeded David Skid of Millard North. It was Bernthalâs third victory over a seeded player in the tournament, and it helped the Spartans clinch the team title after the semifinals. Southeastâs Todd Peterson and Beau Finley, both seniors, defeated Jones and Lundstrom a pair of freshmen, 6-4, 6-1 for the no. 2 doubles gold. The Knights also added the no. 1 doubles crown as Frank Hoppe and Jack Cole breezed past Omaha Burkeâs Billy Tombrink and the critics had plenty of ammunition to fire at East before state. Several close losses to Southeast during the season and a sub-par regular season by Bernthal even had Hoham wondering. Hoham faced the problem of having three players Bernthal, Stempson and Stock, with both the desire and ability to play the no.1 position, Bernmthal, the Nebraska Closed singles championship in August, won the pre-season challenge matches but slumped to a 7-5 record before the state meet. "There were times Iâd go home and wonder whether I was doing the right thing," Hoham said. "But every time I came to the conclusion, I had to stick with my instincts and not break up my doubles teams." Bernthal made the coachâs line-up work by avenging previous losses to Southeastâs Mike Garcia and Omaha Creighton Prepâs Pat Wagner and then eliminationg Skid. "I came into the season thinking ÎIâm pretty goodâ after winning the Closed," Bernthal said. "Then, I started questioning myself, and my game went to pieces. During the season, I had to keep reminding myself I was just preparing for Oct. 13 and 14" "When you put your No. 7 guy into No. 1 doubles in the biggest tournament of the year and they finish third, thatâs a terrific job," Hoham said. The state title gave Hoham a rare coaching double. The second year East coach led the Spartan girls to their first state title last spring.