Singles carries Burroughs past rivals in 13-5 win
BURBANK HIGH — The Burroughs High tennis team’s singles game continues to dominate its opponents.
The latest witness to the Indians’ superior one-on-one contingent was cross-town and Pacific League rival Burbank, which managed to squeak out just six games from Burroughs’ trio of Garrett Auproux, Calvin Fox and Michael Whelan.
“They’re a much better team than we are, and it’s as simple as that,” Bulldogs Coach Loi Phan said after a 13-5 home loss to the Indians on Thursday afternoon. “Our doubles is OK, but their singles is too strong and we don’t match up with them.”
The Indians’ No. 1 doubles team of Wen Yuo Lin and Oscar Lam took all three sets from Burbank’s Kevin and Kenneth Bañares, Tajh Bellow and James Hong and Arthur Kubko and Keon Park, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2.
Burroughs’ No. 2 and No. 3 duos struggled, winning one combined set, as the Bulldogs (5-4, 4-4 in league) won five doubles sets.
Burroughs’ Kevin Hoang and Stephen De La Cruz finished their day 4-6, 4-6, 6-3.
Despite a shaky, but improved, doubles game, the Indians (5-3 in league) are in sole possession of second in league, mainly due to the stellar play from Auproux, Fox and Whelan.
Auproux was the league runner-up in singles last year and showed another strong effort, losing just one game Thursday.
“I just try to play consistently and play my game,” said Fox, who is a freshman and won his sets handily, 6-2, 6-0, 6-0.
“I try to keep the ball in the play, and keep the number of unforced errors down,” Whelan, a sophomore, said.
Whelan also had little trouble getting by Burbank’s competition in his 6-4, 6-0, 6-0 sweep.
Looking forward, Burroughs has no matches scheduled next week — an opportunity Coach Roy Bernhardt said the team would take advantage of and practice what needs to be worked on.
“In tennis, if you’re up, you’re good,” said Bernhardt, who coached the Indians to a share of the league championship with Arcadia last season. “But sometimes you don’t know how it’s going to play out.”