Boys’ tennis: Taft is better by half a point in City Section title match

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Taft once again proved it’s the best team in the City Section, but not by much. The top-seeded Toreadors -- thanks to the last-set heroics of sophomore Jimmy Wellman -- edged second-seeded Palisades by the narrowest margin possible, 15-14 1/2, to defend their title Friday afternoon at the Balboa Sports Center in Encino.

With players from both teams lining the fences to watch the winner-take-all final set, Wellman fought off three championship points in the 12th game. He then won a pressure-packed tiebreaker, 7-3, over Palisades freshman Trinity Thornton for Taft’s decisive point.

Josh Tchan swept his four singles sets and Alex Freeman and Aaron Teitelbaum swept three sets at No. 1 doubles for the Toreadors, who beat Palisades 20-8 1/2 to win the championship last year.

Ninth-seeded Los Angeles University upset second-seeded Monroe, 20 1/2-9, to win the Invitational division.

-- Steve Galluzzo