Boys Tennis: Salpointe over Foothills 5-4 in biggest match of Southern Arizona
by Andy Morales on Mar. 22, 2013, under Sports
Nate Rasmussen eyes his back hand against Andrew Dunn. Dunn won the match 6-3, 7-5. Andy Morales Photo.
Despite a 9-0 setback against Brophy Prep on March 19, Salpointe (5-1) pulled out a 5-4 win over visiting Catalina Foothills (7-1) Thursday afternoon at the Tucson Racquet Club in what was most likely the toughest test left on their schedule.
The match between Salpointe and Catalina Foothills was not decided until the last doubles score came in. Foothills freshman Mike Lee defeated Salpointe’s Tyler Linscott in the top position 1-6, 6-0 (10-5) to give the Falcons an early lead but the rest of the scores would go back and forth until the match remained 3-3 after all the singles scores were in.
Lee is the younger brother of former Sabino standout Jackson Lee. Jackson won a Division III state doubles title as a freshman in 2011 with Stephen Bonhoff to end a 17-year drought for the school but the Sabercats will have to play this year without the services of Jackson because he has transferred over to Foothills to be with his younger brother.
Jackson Lee will have to sit out this year but will be available for his senior year.
Other scores:
Andrew Dunn (Salpointe) over Nate Rasmussen (6-3, 7-5)
Brandon Gerber (Salpointe) over Quinn Gardner (6-0, 6-2)
Jack Amos (Salpointe) over Andrew Good (6-5, 6-5)
Johnathan Miller (Foothills) over Joe Lucker (6-0, 6-3)
Charlie Clark (Foothills) over Andy Barana (7-5, 6-3)
Dunn won a D-I doubles title last year playing alongside his older brother and current University of Arizona freshman standout Matt Dunn.
Linscott and Gerber combined forces to defeat Lee and Good (8-1) in the first doubles match but Miller and Clark defeated Lucker and Barana (8-0) to even things up at 4-4. Dunn and Amos brought in the final score for Salpointe with an 8-2 victory over Rasmussen and Gardner.
The Salpointe boys have won seven state titles with the last six coming under head coach John Condes. (Condes has also won two titles coaching the girls at Salpointe).
Foothills is being led by first-year coach Dave King who is taking over after the retirement of the legendary coach Robb Salant. Foothills won eight championships under Salant. Salant also coached Rincon to a team title and he won two singles titles in 1962 and 1963 playing for Catalina.
Catalina Foothills defeated Ironwood Ridge 6-3 in their first match of the season and their rematch will take place on April 17.
