MGCCC wins region final in five-hour marathon over Jones

ELLISVILLE — MGCCC won its third NJCAA Region 23 men’s tennis title in five years by defeating Jones 5-4 in a match that lasted more than five hours Saturday.

The match came down to the final singles match, with Jan Bako of MGCCC defeating Tom Garrett of Jones 6-7 (5-7), 7-5, 7-5 at No. 2 singles. Bako’s victory clinched the region title for MGCCC, which finished the season with a 13-6 record.

Jones trailed 2-1 after doubles and 4-1 in singles but mounted a strong rally. Juan Francisco Pereyra, Ridge Jones, and Luke Westmoreland all won third-set tiebreakers at Nos. 1, 4, and 5 singles, respectively, to tie the match at 4-4. The dramatic finish set the stage for Bako’s victory in the decisive match.

Garrett was close to securing the win for Jones, leading 5-4 and needing two points to close out the match. However, Bako fought back, tying the game at 5-5 in the third set and then winning the next two games to take the set 7-5.

Jones, now 16-2 on the season, will compete as the region runner-up at the NJCAA Division II Men’s Tennis Championship in Plano, Texas, from May 11-15, according to sources.

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