After dropping the only losses in Sierra’s first two postseason victories, both 8-1 blowouts over Beyer and River Valley, senior Santiago Franco came through Thursday when the top-seeded Timberwolves needed him in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV final.
His 7-6, 6-2 victory over Uriel Gomez at No. 4 singles was the clincher for the now-two-time reigning champions. They won 5-4 against No. 2 Roseville, which got to play the title match on its home courts at Johnson Ranch Racquet Club as the lower seed.
Whatever disadvantages the T’wolves (17-3) may have had as the road team did not matter in the end. Franco and the rest of the team’s seven seniors made sure of it. This is the first and only 5-4 result all season for Sierra.
“It was meant to be,” Sierra coach Dan Duke said of Franco getting the chance to lock down the needed fifth team point.
“He went from being undefeated as our No. 6 last year to No. 4, and he has taken a bunch of hits for the team. He was coming off some tough losses, but this was a big win.”
Brady Alves took care of business from the top of the ladder, routing Nathan Marquez, 6-0, 6-1. Sophomore Harshith Kumar had a clutch 6-0, 4-6, 10-3 win at No. 5 singles against Max Duco.
Sierra swept the No. 2 and 3 doubles matches.
The No. 2 duo of Sid Gopendran and Zain Ali fended off Jackson Myers and Caleb Barba, 6-4, 7-5. At No. 3, Alex Rey Rosario and Noah Brum dispatched Jacob Bills and Spencer Davis, 6-4, 6-2.
“They were tough,” Duke said of the Tigers (15-7). “Going over there to their place was tough, but our kids toughened up with Brady leading the way with his win at the start.”
Roseville kept it close, thanks to some tiebreaking wins. The No. 1 doubles team of Noah Lacerda and Zach Eldridge squeaked past Sierra’s Sparsh Beedi and Hasnain Ali, 6-3, 7-6. Roseville also got a 7-6, 0-6, 11-9 win from Jayden Ho at No. 6 singles against Ryan Alves, though that result did not matter as it came shortly after Franco’s title-clinching triumph.
Roseville’s other wins came from No. 2 singles players Mitchell Lacey (6-1, 6-1) and Myles Nguyen (6-0, 6-3) against Ashton Hillard and Oliver Naven, respectively.
“They were determined,” Duke said of his players. “Eleven months ago at our banquet, they were saying they want to get another one and they did it. They worked harder this year, and the teams we played were tougher. Coach (Jacob) Naven helped them improve a lot, and the seniors led the charge.”
