It shouldn’t come as a surprise either that Catino and Kaar played a three-set contest given the talent that both possess as Montoursville won, 5-0.

“He’s been our most consistent player all year. He makes the least amount of mistakes of anybody on the team, that’s why he stays in the matches like this. He’s like Montoursville kids: he doesn’t make mistakes,” Williamsport coach Mike Lundy said of Kaar. “Maybe tomorrow he wins a three-set tiebreaker, but Gio played well. Spencer’s playing well too. So, his confidence has really skyrocketed. Of everybody on the team, he’s definitely the most confident.”

Catino earned a 6-2 win in the first set before Kaar responded and played well in the second set. Kaar led at one point 3-0 before Catino stormed back to take a 4-3 lead. But from there, Kaar dialed in and closed it out to win, 6-4, and force a decisive third set.

In that third-set tiebreaker, it was Catino who earned the 10-4 win, sealing it as a Kaar return went just too far and landed out of bounds behind the back line.

Teli Bobotas of Montoursville returns a shot by Howard Chen of Williamsport. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“He was a little bit sluggish in the second set, but he came back. He was up 4-3 I think in that second set, but lost his concentration or something, but he came back in that tiebreaker pretty well,” Montoursville coach Shawn Gardner said. “He held strong there. He has some good serves and played the wind pretty good to his advantage.”

A fair wind was blowing throughout Tuesday’s competition, causing some shots to land shy or long of their intended target. But regardless, the players adjusted and played their best.

At No. 1 singles, Teli Bobotas secured a 6-2, 6-0 win against Howard Chen and at No. 3 singles, it was Colby Ulmer who earned a 6-1, 6-1 win against Joseph Hillman.

“It was a good win. Their team has come a long way compared to the first time we played them,” Gardner said of their second matchup vs. the Millionaires this season “They’ve improved a lot, but my guys held strong. I think they’re all two setters except for that last one tiebreaker in the third set. I was happy with that performance today.”

And entering Tuesday, Lundy knew the Millionaires would be in for a tough battle against a talented team like Montoursville, who improved to 8-4 as the Millionaires are now 3-7.

Cooper Gurberlet, left, and his team mate Richard Chen of Williamsport talk as they walk off the court after playing Rain Snyder, center, and Conner George, far right. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“That’s a good team. There’s no two ways about it; their key is they’re consistent. They just don’t make mistakes and compared to them, we’re younger and I’m trying to get my guys to understand cut back on your mistakes,” Lundy said. “Let the other team make mistakes and it’ll be in our favor that way. But they just don’t make mistakes. They really don’t.

“They’re really good, they’re well-coached. We’re working,” Lundy continued. “We have one senior so I’m excited about the future obviously, but we got to take care of business this year and keep improving this year and then we can worry about next year.”

In doubles action, the Warriors swept the competition.

Cullen Pauling and Mason Fry earned a 6-1, 6-2 win against Wyatt Judge and Charles Plummer at No. 1 doubles. At No. 2 doubles, Williamsport’s Richard Chen and Cooper Gutberlet played well in the first set, pushing Montoursville’s Rain Snyder and Conner George in the first set. But the Warriors secured a first-set win, 6-4, and then secured the match with a 6-1 win in the second set.

“They’re both equal and they’re pretty much the depth of our team, which is really important,” Gardner said. “We just gotta win both doubles and hopefully one of the singles. That’s our strategy. We’ve been doing good in doubles. These guys have been playing for three or so years straight so they have experience.”

Charles Plummer (background) watches as his team mate Wyatt Judge of Williamsport makes a leaping return on a shot as they play Cullen Pawling and Mason Fry of Montoursville. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Williamsport and Montoursville both have District 4 singles competition on the horizon next week. Williamsport will travel to the District 6 tournament and have to face tough competition such as Shikellamy, Central Mountain and perennial power State College. The Warriors will send two singles players to the District 4 tournament next Saturday at Williamsport High School.

Montoursville 5, Williamsport 0

SINGLES

1. Teli Bobotas (M) def. Howard Chen, 6-2, 6-0; 2. Gio Catino (M) def. Spencer Kaar, 6-2, 4-6, 10-4; 3. Colby Ulmer (M) def. Joseph Hillman, 6-1, 6-1.

DOUBLES

Spencer Kaar of Williamsport returns a shot by Gio Catino of Montoursville. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

1. Cullen Pauling/Mason Fry (M) def. Wyatt Judge/Charles Plummer, 6-1, 6-2; 2. Rain Snyder/Conner George (M) def. Richard Chen/Cooper Gutberlet, 6-4, 6-1.

Records: Williamsport (3-7), Montoursville (8-4).

Colby Ulmer of Montoursville serves to Joseph Hillman of Williamsport. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Gio Catino of Montoursville serves to Spencer Kaar of Williamsport. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Howard Chen of Williamsport serves to Teli Bobotas of Montoursville. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Rain Synder returns a volley as he and his team mate Conner George of Montoursville play Cooper Gutberlet and Richard Chen of Williamsport. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette