JB tennis falls to McDevitt again
The James Buchanan boys tennis team could nearly taste redemption in a Mid Penn Colonial Division match against Bishop McDevitt on Wednesday, but could not complete the turnaround as the match came down to a third-set battle in No. 1 doubles.
The No. 1 doubles crew of Oscar Erkes and Noah Shank won the first set, but fell 7-4 in the tiebreaker of the second set, and ultimately 6-3 in the third.
"Last time out No. 1 got smoked by that doubles team, and it came down to No. 2 doubles last time," James Buchanan coach Terri Beegle said. "Everyone played a lot better today, but they are disappointed. They knew they could beat them."
James Buchanan (7-4, 4-3 MPC) got a pair of sweeps in Nos. 1 and 2 singles from the hands of Isaac Shenton and Micah Wise, respectively. Shenton played a pair of smart sets to claim 6-3 and 6-2 victories over Noah Nacionales, who took him to three sets last time out.
"Isaac is steady, and his serve was on today, and in the second set he really picked it up," Beegle said. "He moved the guy around a lot and his opponent was getting tired. Isaac is really smart and used that to his advantage because he is deceptively quick."
Wise rebounded after a slow start to take down Josh Lipitan in a 7-2 tiebreaker, then later turned it on to win 6-3.
After losing to the Crusaders 3-2 in the second match of the season, the Rockets wanted to turn things around in the second half of Mid Penn Colonial Division play, but they still cannot get over the hump in close matches. James Buchanan's four losses have all come in close 3-2 scores.
"I think in the long run we are going to be better for it," Beegle said. "Eventually we are going to get on the other side of the 3-2."
Josh Summers fell in No. 3 singles to Nathaniel Jackson 6-3, 6-3 and the No. 2 doubles crew of Thatcher Stevens and Paul Dzielcol fell 6-3, 6-2 to Elliot Barwin and Cole Berryhill.