Ceres High School's varsity boys tennis team clinched the Western Athletic Conference title outright by grinding out a 5-4 win over Livingston on Monday in Ceres.
"I knew it was going to be tough," Bulldogs head coach Bryan Harden said. "When you play hard, good things happen."
Ceres High avenged its only loss of the season, improved to 19-1 overall (10-1 in league) and qualified for the playoffs for the third year in a row. The Wolves finished third in conference play at 9-3.
"We're fortunate enough to have dedicated players every year," Bulldog junior standout Gurman Bains said.
Bains' grueling 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 victory over Cruz Trenado in No. 2 singles action propelled Ceres High past Livingston and to its second league title in the past three seasons.
"Everyone was watching me," Gurman said. "That got me pumped."
Bains overcame a 5-2 deficit in the final set.
"That was a huge comeback on his part," Harden said. "He sucked it up mentally and got it done. We really needed it."
Added Gurman: "I got my act together and made the right shots."
Ceres High's Julio Ochoa, Alick Liang and Victor Pimentel also prevailed in singles play.
Ochoa defeated Roy Gomez 6-1, 6-1 in No. 1 singles action.
Liang defeated Jacob Mercado 6-1, 6-1 in No. 3 singles action.
Pimentel defeated Alex Garcia 6-1, 7-5 in No. 6 singles action.
At No. 2 doubles, Sergio Zepeda and David Cisneros teamed up to beat Raj Singh and Jasdip Hundal 6-7 (6-8), 6-0, 6-1.
Chase Harden lost 6-2, 6-4 to Juan Moreno in No. 4 singles action.
Jordan Mey lost 6-3, 6-2 to Edgar Mejia in No. 5 singles action.
Trevor Brazil and Esteban de la Torre lost 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 to Roland Chavez and Juan Montanez in No. 1 doubles action.
Heath Adrian and Shane Kumar lost 7-5, 6-4 to Huver Mejia and Jorge Deharo in No. 3 doubles action.
Ceres High suffered a 5-4 loss at Livingston on March 20.
The Bulldogs wrap up the WAC regular season on the road today. Ceres High will face Central Valley at 3 p.m. The Bulldogs, 11-0 versus the Hawks since the crosstown series was established in 2007, will try to annex their first-ever 20-win season.
"I knew it was going to be tough," Bulldogs head coach Bryan Harden said. "When you play hard, good things happen."
Ceres High avenged its only loss of the season, improved to 19-1 overall (10-1 in league) and qualified for the playoffs for the third year in a row. The Wolves finished third in conference play at 9-3.
"We're fortunate enough to have dedicated players every year," Bulldog junior standout Gurman Bains said.
Bains' grueling 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 victory over Cruz Trenado in No. 2 singles action propelled Ceres High past Livingston and to its second league title in the past three seasons.
"Everyone was watching me," Gurman said. "That got me pumped."
Bains overcame a 5-2 deficit in the final set.
"That was a huge comeback on his part," Harden said. "He sucked it up mentally and got it done. We really needed it."
Added Gurman: "I got my act together and made the right shots."
Ceres High's Julio Ochoa, Alick Liang and Victor Pimentel also prevailed in singles play.
Ochoa defeated Roy Gomez 6-1, 6-1 in No. 1 singles action.
Liang defeated Jacob Mercado 6-1, 6-1 in No. 3 singles action.
Pimentel defeated Alex Garcia 6-1, 7-5 in No. 6 singles action.
At No. 2 doubles, Sergio Zepeda and David Cisneros teamed up to beat Raj Singh and Jasdip Hundal 6-7 (6-8), 6-0, 6-1.
Chase Harden lost 6-2, 6-4 to Juan Moreno in No. 4 singles action.
Jordan Mey lost 6-3, 6-2 to Edgar Mejia in No. 5 singles action.
Trevor Brazil and Esteban de la Torre lost 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 to Roland Chavez and Juan Montanez in No. 1 doubles action.
Heath Adrian and Shane Kumar lost 7-5, 6-4 to Huver Mejia and Jorge Deharo in No. 3 doubles action.
Ceres High suffered a 5-4 loss at Livingston on March 20.
The Bulldogs wrap up the WAC regular season on the road today. Ceres High will face Central Valley at 3 p.m. The Bulldogs, 11-0 versus the Hawks since the crosstown series was established in 2007, will try to annex their first-ever 20-win season.
