Spartan can't stop win streak.

Byline: Paula Lincoln The Register-Guard

Marist's Jasjit Singh couldn't stop Dustin Forsyth from winning an unprecedented third straight Class 3A/2A/1A boys singles title Saturday afternoon.

The No. 2-seeded junior advanced to the final of the state tennis championships with a hard-fought semifinal win in the morning before falling 6-2, 6-1 to the two-time defending champion from Ontario at the Eugene Swim & Tennis Club.

BOYS TENNIS

The top-seeded Forsyth, who beat No. 4 seed John Magana of Echo 6-4, 6-1 in the semifinals, spent most of his time at the baseline and didn't make very many mistakes.

"He played better than me today," said Singh, who lost 6-3, 6-1 to Forsyth in last year's title match. "The first time I played him, I put up better scores. This time, I played a better match (but) he played amazingly."

Catlin Gabel's Shane Kapral and David Kellogg beat Valley Catholic's Tyler Chin and Thomas Thiel 3-6, 6-1, 7-5 in the doubles final to help lead the Eagles to the team title with 14 points. Ontario was second with 11, followed by Marist with 8 1/2 and Valley Catholic with 6 1/2 .

Forsyth and Singh each held serve through three games, with Forsyth taking a 2-1 lead in the first set before Forsyth forced the first of his six service breaks in a game that went to deuce.

Forsyth scored four straight points in game five to take a 4-1 advantage and then broke Singh's serve in a game that included three double faults to go ahead 5-1.

Singh broke Forsyth in the next game to close to 5-2, but Forsyth countered with a four-point win - including two more double faults - to take the first set, 6-2.

"He holds his serve really well," Singh said. "It's all a mental game. He won from above the shoulders this time."

Singh said he and Forsyth have a similar style, though it was obvious Singh was the aggressor Saturday.

"I tried to bring him to the net, but he stayed back really well. I try to get the short balls. So does he. Our games are similar, but he's more advanced and has more spin," added Singh, who fell behind 2-0 in the second set before breaking Forsyth in the third.

Singh, who was the District 5 champion, beat Aitor Maiz of Catlin Gabel 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7) to earn his berth in the final. It was the first time Singh had beaten Maiz in three tries this season.

"I'm really happy about that," said Singh, who was already thinking ahead to his chances next year when Maiz would return but "Dustin will be gone, thank God."

Class 4A

BEAVERTON - Top-seeded Brett Joelson successfully defended his singles title at the Class 4A tennis state championships Saturday at Tualatin Hills Tennis Center.

The senior from Westview beat Grant sophomore Tommy Hicks 6-1, 6-0 to help the Wildcats to a three-way tie for second place.

West Linn won the team title with 14 points, followed by Jesuit, McKay, and Westview with 10 each. The local teams who scored were Churchill with four points, Sheldon and Thurston with two each, and South Eugene with one.

No. 1 seeds Rian Rifkin, a junior, and Austin Rifkin, a freshman, of West Linn defeated No. 4 Phalkun Mam and Charles Tran of McKay, 6-4, 6-4 to win the doubles title.