FRANKLIN—Windsor High School-Franklin High School boys tennis matches usually end up being battles of the titans in the Tri-Rivers District. Friday, the Dukes won round one, crowning the Broncos 7-2.

Although the final score was lopsided in favor of Windsor, there were several close contests that could have gone either way.

All of the singles matches, except first singles, went either three sets or to tie breakers. The Dukes, 11-1, 3-1 in the district, were up 5-1 after singles play.

One key to the victory was Scott Van Eck’s come-from-behind victory over Josh Rose at fourth singles in a match that lasted more than two hours. The two had split sets— Franklin’s Rose winning the first set 6-4, and Van Eck coming back for a 6-4 victory in set two. Rose had Van Eck on the ropes 5-2 in the third set. But Van Eck won five straight games to take the final set 7-5.

“I didn’t give up,” Van Eck said. “For some reason, I can’t explain it — I had the confidence in me.”

Windsor head coach Tom Michael said Van Eck has some of the best strokes on the team.

“He came back and he really played hard,” Michael said.

Frank Davis, Franklin (8-1, 2-1) head coach, reminded Rose after the match that he needs to keep the focus when he is leading.

“He just didn’t have enough momentum to take him out,” Davis said. “I told him he played a good match, but you still can’t let up, because the momentum can always turn. When you’re up, you have to put it away.”

At second singles, Franklin’s Joseph Benn eked out the lone singles victory for the Broncos. He downed Will Cobb 7-6 (8-6 in the tie breaker), 6-4.

Third singles was also highly contested. Windsor’s Corey Medley pulled out a 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-4) barn-burner against Lavonte Perkinson.

Windsor’s fifth and sixth players, who played their first varsity matches this week, came through in a big way. The fifth singles match went three sets.

Franklin’s Brian Gary won the first set 6-4, but Dustin DeMello, playing in his first varsity singles match of the season, roared back with 6-0, 6-2 victories.

At sixth singles, Windsor’s D.J. Myers, playing in just his second varsity match of the season, knocked off Juan Winstead 6-4, 7-6 (8-6).

The only singles match that was not close was at first. Windsor’s Chad Cutchin took care of Lamar Carter 6-2, 6-3.

Windsor won two of the three doubles matches. At first doubles, Windsor’s Cutchin and Medley downed Carter and Rose 8-2.

Franklin came back with a win in second doubles, when Benn and Perkinson dropped Cobb and DeMello 9-7. The Dukes captures the third doubles match 7-2, with Van Eck and Myers knocking off Gary and Winstead.

The two teams meet up again on May 14 in Windsor.

“Franklin’s got a good team. They hit through the ball,” Michael said.

“It could go either way,” he said of the May 14 match-up. We were kind of nervous today because we had those two new players.”

“Overall, we played them well,” Davis noted. “This is one

that will help us go the rest of the season.”