Prep tennis: Branson, Redwood set for title match

The talented senior class on The Branson School boys tennis team earned one more shot at MCAL nemesis Redwood with a hard-fought 6-1 victory over Marin Catholic in the semifinals on Wednesday at College of Marin.

The battle for MCAL honors takes place Friday at 4 p.m. at Novato High, and you can expect a war. Redwood finalized the showdown with a win over Tam.

“They are always a challenge,” said Branson coach Chrissie Costamagna of Redwood. “They’re really tough. They make us play our best tennis.”

The top-seeded Giants (17-0) have won both meetings against second-seeded Branson (14-3) this season and will be looking for a second straight league pennant.

The six Branson seniors got the best of Redwood as sophomores in 2023 when the Bulls won their first league title since 2001. The Bulls beat Redwood twice during the regular season and then produced an impressive 5-2 showing in the MCAL finals en route to an unbeaten record and the North Coast Section Division II championship.

“We’re really looking forward to them playing for a third time,” said Branson senior Tommie Higgins. “We’re going to put our best foot forward. Overall, we’ve had a fantastic season even though it’s been tough against Redwood.”

The Bulls were dominating in all three doubles lines against MC, only dropping eight games total. With the team outcome still pending, the Bulls’ No. 1 duo of Higgins and Leighton Fraser made quick work with a 6-1, 6-2 win.

In the early matches, James Stovall and Mason Ogborne were unstoppable in No. 2 doubles, winning 6-0, 6-2. Branson’s No. 3 doubles team of Cal Keenley and Zander Alpert won 6-0, 6-3 for a 2-0 Bulls’ lead with five matches still undecided.

“We’re doing a lot of intense doubles drills in practice,” said Higgins. “We are really buckling down on the fundamentals — volleys and playing to each of our strengths. I think that has really translated well from practice onto the court.”

Finn Higgins had a key win at No. 3 singles for Branson, outlasting Milo Vidyarthi 6-3, 2-6, 6-2. Finn Higgins patiently controlled the third set from the baseline and used an untouchable forehand winner for match point.

The Bulls got a dramatic win from freshman Gian-Carlo a Marca, who gutted out a 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (5) win over Marin Catholic senior Felix Adam in No. 4 singles. Branson’s Ishwar Jayaraman was leading 3-6, 6-3, 4-1 when Qas Vidyarthi retired in the No. 2 singles match.

Branson’s Chase Hoeveler, who won the league singles title last season, faced Jack Millar in the late match. Millar picked up the Wildcats’ only win, 5-7, 7-6, 1-0 by winning a super tiebreaker.

This year’s MCAL singles and doubles tournaments are set for Monday through Wednesday at Flyte Racquet Club in San Rafael.

• With Witt Bulger out of the lineup for Tam High during Wednesday’s other MCAL semifinal, Diego Castillo stepped up to face Redwood’s Julian Zhang at No. 1 singles. Zhang, who lost to Bulger earlier in the season, beat Castillo, 6-1, 6-0, as the Giants went on to sweep the match 7-0. The Giants’ Casra Afsharipour got a 6-0, 6-0 win over Sam Zeil at No. 2 singles, and Tam defaulted Nos. 3 and 4 singles.