Bill Cannon thought – his heart racing – the defending state champs might just pull off the comeback.

Down 4-2, needing three wins in doubles action, the Central girls tennis team fought handand- raquet with Concord.

Central singles No. 1 Margaret Teague and No. 3 Justine Beaudoin faced match point, trailing 7-5 in No. 1 doubles.

But when Concord’s Maria Rouvalis touched the net going for the kill shot, Teague and Beaudoin took advantage, sweeping to a 9-7 triumph.

“There was a moment there, right when our No. 1 doubles won, where I thought we had a chance,” said Cannon. “We were up in our other two matches, but I knew it was going to be a tough battle because a team like Concord wasn’t just going to roll over. I mean, it doesn’t matter who your opponent is, it’s not like … you can run the clock out. You have to play each point out.”

But several minutes after the Little Green celebrated that come-from-behind victory, they watched Concord overcome a 5- 4 deficit to win No. 2 doubles, 8-5, and secure the semifinal contest. Central fell, 6-3, ending its title defense.

Cannon said he was thankful for a largely successful season that included a 5-4 win May 9 against Concord, a 13-1 regular season and the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.

“We had a lot of depth and a lot of good tennis players on this team, and that really helps,” said Cannon, in his sixth year as Central coach after two years at Memorial. “It’s a great bunch of kids that definitely have a lot of fun, and I’m looking forward to coming back and doing it again next year.”

Central returns six of its top seven, including five starters. While losing Beaudoin, a Hooksett native, the Little Green welcome back Teague and fellow sophomore Chelsea Thibeault, their No. 5.

Junior Romina Borbotsina and Phoebe Lyman, the current No. 2 and No. 4, also return, as do freshmen Keenan Bryant and Sonia Losim, the No. 6 and No. 7.

“I think it’s going to be a good team next year, that’s for sure,” said Cannon. “Sonia will fit right in. She came in and played some matches this year and helped us with a pretty big win for a freshman against Bishop Guertin.”