Tie breaks and big points proved critical for Aberdeen Central in two losses.
The Golden Eagles lost 9-0 to Rapid City Stevens and 5-4 to Pierre on Tuesday at the Pierre Triangular in boys' high school tennis.
In the loss to Stevens, Aberdeen Central lost three singles matches in tie breaks and one doubles. The Raiders were fresh off winning the Rapid City Invitational Friday and Saturday.
"We played really well against Stevens," said Central boys' coach Trent Kurtz. "Stevens might be the best team in the state and we had chances to win three or four more of those matches. They have experienced kids and a lot of the tie breaks were against our young kids. We just have to get comfortable and learn how to win them."
Joey Crompton, Adam Zimmerman and Jesse Margolies all reached a third set tie breaker in their singles matches but ended up on the losing end. Dillon Prissel and Margolies lost a doubles match in a tie breaker.
The Golden Eagles won two tie breaks in singles and lost one in a tight Pierre match. Crompton broke through at number two singles with a 4-6, 6-4, 11-9 win over Connor Shoop. Margolies followed with a 6-4, 7-5, 11-9 win over Patrick Bollinger at number six singles. Alex Grandbois chipped in with a win at number five singles.
Prissel and Margolies joined forces for a 7-5, 6-4 win at flight three doubles.
"We are so close to Pierre that we could play 10 times and it would be five-to-five. There was only one match that was lopsided but the other eight could have gone either way. These two teams are as even as even can be. It should be an interesting ESD tournament," said Kurtz.
The Eastern South Dakota Conference tournament is scheduled for May 10 at Brookings.
The Golden Eagles return to the court on Friday when they play St. Thomas More at 1:30 p.m. and cross town rival Aberdeen Roncalli at 4 p.m. Both matches will be played at the Northern State courts. Roncalli and Central will play just one time this season in boys' tennis.
|R.C. Stevens 9, Aberdeen Central 0|
|Singles|
James Ferrier, RCST, def. Aaron Lorenz, 6-0, 6-0
Chuck Tang, RCST, def. Joey Crompton, 6-1, 5-7, 10-6
Lane Culey, RCST, def. Adam Zimmerman, 3-6, 6-1, 10-1
Sean Feehan, RCST, def. Dillon Prissel, 6-0, 6-1
Mason Schultz, RCST, def. Alex Grandbois, 6-4, 6-4
Trae Olson, RCST, def. Jesse Margolies, 6-4, 5-7, 10-8
|Doubles|
Ferrier-Tang, RCST, def. Lorenz-Crompton, 6-1, 6-4
Culey-Schultz, RCST, def. Zimmerman-Grandbois, 6-2, 6-4
Feehan-Olson, RCST, def. Prissel-Margolies, 4-6, 6-4, 7-5
Exhibition Winners: Matt Melmeseter, Dayton Wirth, Wirth-Matt Hollan, Eric Marnette-Gabe Swanson
|Pierre 5, Aberdeen Central 4|
|Singles|
Nathan Ellenbecker, P, def. Aaron Lorenz, 6-3, 6-3
Joey Crompton, AC, def. Connor Shoop, 4-6, 6-4, 11-9
Brandon Vockrodt, P, def. Adam Zimmerman, 6-2, 4-6, 10-8
Mitchell Hanson, P, def. Dillon Prissel, 6-4, 6-3
Alex Grandbois, AC, def. Payton Jones, 6-2, 6-0
Jesse Margolies, AC, def. Patrick Bollinger, 6-4, 5-7, 11-9
|Doubles|
Ellenbecker-Hanson, P, def. Lorenz-Crompton, 6-0, 7-5
Shoop-Vockrodt, P, def. Zimmerman-Grandbois, 6-2, 7-5
Prissel-Margolies, AC, def. Bollinger-Kaen Hight, 7-5, 6-4
Exhibition Winners: Matt Hollan, Matt Melmeseter, Dayton Wirth, Gabe Swanson, Hollan-Wirth, Eric Marnette-Swanson