Tennis team scores a tie with Jerome

The Mountain Home Tigers battled Jerome to a 6-6 tie Friday in non-conference tennis at Mountain Home Air Force Base. Earlier in the week the Tigers dropped conference matches to Bishop Kelly and Emmett.

Bishop Kelly 12

Mountain Home 0

The Bishop Kelly Knights are the defending 4A state champions in tennis and showed they may be ever bit as strong this year, sweeping the Tigers, 12-0 on April 3 at the Mountain Home Air Force Base courts.

"Our players fought hard. They came ready to take on the Knights," said Tiger tennis coach Tamzy House. "I was very proud of the team's energy and focus. Bishop Kelly had to work hard to beat the Tigers."

In boys singles, Jordan Niksich lost the #1 singles match, 1-6, 3-6. Justin Richins lost at the #2 spot, 3-6, 3-6. Jason Ward lost the #3 match, 1-8 (pro-set).

The Lady Tigers opened singles play with Nora Fischer at #1 losing to the 2005 state 4A singles champion Annamarie Gould, 1-6, 0-6. Julie Remington lost, 1-6, 2-6, in #2, and Laura Lothrop took her Bishop Kelly opponent three sets before losing the #3 girls singles match.

Bishop Kelly won all the other matches in straight sets, though several of the Tigers battled their opponents tough before losing.

"We're still experimenting with different doubles partners to get the right mix," said Coach House. "I am very encouraged by our play against a very skilled Bishop Kelly team."

Emmett Huskies 10

Mountain Home 2

The Tigers traveled to Emmett last Thursday, where Coach House indicated they had some "unexpected difficulty. They came ready to play, but the court conditions were a little more challenging and threw off a lot of the players' games, especially in the tree-shaded area. I think it was a depth perception problem for many of the players, judging where the ball is going to land on a concrete colored court in a low-contrast light situation. It was a good learning experience for them."

The Tiger points came in the boys singles matches.

Jordan Niksich won the #1 spot in three sets, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, and Joshua Lewis won the #3 match. Jason Ward lost at the #2 spot, 1-6, 1-6.

In girls singles, Nora Fischer lost at #1, 1-6, 5-7, Laura Lothrop lost the #2, 1-6, 0-6, and Christina Gutierrez stepped in to play at #3 and lost in three sets, 6-2, 0-6, 5-7.

In boys doubles, Zach Anderson and Joey Miller lost the #1 match, 3-6, 1-6. The brother team of Thomas and Andrew Martin lost the #2 match, 1-6, 2-6.

In girls doubles, Breanna White and Daryl Enriquez lost a tough #1 match, 6-7 (1-7), 1-6, and Lindsay Kellerman and Tara Brandenburg dropped a hard-fought 2-6, 2-6 #2 doubles match.

In mixed doubles, Keenan Galloway and Lindsay Horgan lost 0-6, 2-6 in #1, and Keth Galloway and Annie Bledsoe dropped a close 4-6, 3-6 match at #2.

"We had strong doubles play today, but just couldn't close out any of the matches," said Coach House. "That will come with more experience."

Mountain Home 6

Jerome Tigers 6

The Tigers of Mountain Home hosted the Tigers from Jerome last Friday at the airbase, and came away with a 6-6 tie.

Mountain Home won all the singles matches, and Jerome took all the doubles matches.

Norah Fischer won at #1 girls singles, 6-3, 6-2. Laura Lothrop won at #2, 6-2, 6-2, and Christina Gutierrez won, 6-2, 6-4, at #3.

Jordan Niksich won #1 boys singles, 6-3, 6-0. Joshua Lewis won, 6-1, 6-1, at #2, and Zach Anderson won #3, 6-3, 6-4.

The Tigers came close to pulling out the #1 girls doubles match, as Breanna White and Daryl Enriquez dropped a tough 2-6, 4-6 match that had a lot of deuce games.

In #2 boys doubles, Keenan Galloway and Thomas Martin battled three sets before losing, 6-4, 2-6, 4-6.

"This was a great non-conference match for both teams," said Coach House. "The teams are very similar in tennis skill and temperament, producing a very enjoyable match for everyone."

Mountain Home travels to Jerome today (Wednesday) and Coach House hopes for a win.

"Hopefully, we'll do even better. I am so proud of the team and how they're coming together."

The Tigers played a conference match at Vallivue on Monday, and host Nampa in conference play tomorrow (Thursday) at the airbase.