Blue Jays fall one win short of state
The Jamestown High School boys tennis team fell one game short of state. After a first-round loss to Bismarck Century at the West Region Tournament, the Blue Jays defeated Dickinson 4-1 in a loser-out match. That set up a state-qualifier against Bismarck, which won 4-1.By: By Dave Selvig, The Jamestown Sun, The Jamestown Sun
The Jamestown High School boys tennis team fell one game short of state.
After a first-round loss to Bismarck Century at the West Region Tournament, the Blue Jays defeated Dickinson 4-1 in a loser-out match. That set up a state-qualifier against Bismarck, which won 4-1.
“We’re disappointed we didn’t get to state,” JHS coach Pat Mullowney said. “Overall what we can take out of this is that we have some youth that got some good experience playing at the varsity level. If we continue to work hard and improve we could be right in the mix next year.”
The Blue Jays will compete in individual play today in Bismarck. Nick Watne, Declan O’Higgins and Ben Harris will compete in singles play. Braydon Love and Nate Soulis along with Ashton Johnson and Nick Fuchs will play in doubles.
Watne is seeded fourth in singles, meaning he gets a first-round bye. To advance to state you need to win three before you lose two in singles for non-seeded players. Seeded players need two wins before two losses. Same is true in doubles.
BC 5, JHS 0
The Patriots, seeded second, rolled over the Blue Jays in the opener.
O’Higgins put up a strong fight at No. 1 singles, but it was all Patriots otherwise.
“I didn’t think we came out with enough intensity and we certainly didn’t win enough games,” Mullowney said. “Century is a strong team. They have solid players.”
JHS 4, DHS 1
O’Higgins won his singles match 6-0, 6-0 in the loser-out match against Dickinson. The Blue Jays got a forfeit in the other singles match.
“Declan had a strong match. He played some really nice tennis today,” Mullowney said.
Love and Soulis and Johnson and Fuchs added convincing wins in doubles. Love and Soulis dropped just four games, while Johnson and Fuchs won 1 and 0.
“It was a good win for us. I thought we came out and took care of business for the most part,” Mullowney said.
BHS 4, JHS 1
Harris got the lone victory in the qualifier against Bismarck, although all three singles matches were competitive.
Harris defeated T.J. Irey in three sets at No. 3 singles.
O’Higgins led Willi Ulness 4-3 at No. 1, but Bismarck’s top player rallied to win nine of the next 11 games.
Soulis got seven games off Jared Spooner at No. 2, but fell 4 and 3.
“I thought we had a pretty good lineup, we just didn’t get it done in enough matches,” Mullowney said. “We played well in singles, but we definitely struggled in doubles. … Bismarck is one of the top four teams in the West and they’re all pretty tough.”
West Region Tournamenet
At Bismarck
Bismarck Century 5, Jamestown 0
Singles
No. 1: Janes, BC def. O’Higgins, 6-1. 6-4.
No. 2: Beck, BC def. Love, 6-2. 6-1.
No. 3: Swanberg, BC def. Harris, 6-1. 6-1.
Doubles
No. 1: Mastel/Anderson, BC def. Watne/Fuchs, 6-2, 6-2.
No. 2: Warren/Ehli, BC def. Johnson/Soulis, 6-1, 6-1.
Jamestown 4, Dickinson 1
Singles
No. 1: Priebe, DHS def. Watne, 7-6 (7), 6-2
No. 2: O’Higgins, JHS def. Griffeth, 6-0, 6-0.
No. 3: JHS won by forfeit.
Doubles
No. 1: Love/Soulis, JHS def. Jerome/Schwab, 6-2, 6-2.
No. 2: Johnson/Fuchs, JHS def. Schmidt/Praus, 6-1, 6-0.
Bismarck 4, Jamestown 1
Singles
No. 1: Ulness, BHS def. O’Higgins, 6-4, 6-2.
No. 2: Spooner, BHS def. Soulis, 6-4, 6-3.
No. 3: Harris, JHS def. Irey, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4.
Doubles
No. 1: Wirrenga/Mueschel, BHS def. Watne/Love, 6-0, 6-2.
No. 2: Krecklau/Keys, BHS def. Johnson/Fuchs, 6-1, 6-1.
Sun sports editor Dave Selvig can be reached at (701) 952-8460 or by e-mail at dselvig@jamestownsun.com
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