The Mats were going up against Los Gatos, a team they had already beaten twice in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League De Anza Division regular season. And they were leading 5-2 in the only match left to play in the championship bout.

Monta Vista was playing for match point, and it appeared a seventh straight CCS title was imminent. Los Gatos, however, must have had other ideas.

The match was tied 3-3 and James Lok and Brent Fong were trailing Eric Low and Eric Lee 5-2 in the final set at No. 2 doubles. The rest of the Monta Vista and Los Gatos tennis players could only sit by and watch.

What the Wildcats saw, though, touched off a championship celebration for Los Gatos. Lok and Fong courageously fought back from the deficit, battling back through three match points before tying the set 6-6. The Gatos duo won the tiebreaker 7-2 and Los Gatos had clinched the CCS championship.

Senior standout Will McAlister at No. 1 singles and sophomore sensation Brian Brogan at No. 2 both nailed victories to give the Cats a split in singles play. Lee Gerston and Chase Huebner teamed for a hard-earned 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 win at No. 1 doubles and Fong and Lok battled from behind for the 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7-2) win at No. 2 doubles that clinched the team win for the Wildcats.

Los Gatos improved to 25-5 for the year with the thrilling victory. It was just the second loss of the year for the Matadors, who slipped to 20-2.

The Wildcats had beaten Bellarmine 5-2 in the CCS semifinals to earn their place in the title match.

B. Brogan won 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 at No. 2 singles, Victor Larssen won 7-5, 4-6, 6-1 at No. 3 and Patrick Brogan won 6-3, 7-5 at No. 3 to get the Cats off to a good start.

Gerston and Huebner teamed for a convincing 6-0, 6-0 win at No. 1 doubles and Lok and Fong won 6-1, 6-2 at No. 2.

Monta Vista beat Leland 4-3 the same day to advance to the finals.

The Wildcats had opened the CCS tournament by blanking Aragon 7-0, winning every match in straight sets. McAlister, B. Brogan, Larssen and P. Brogan each won in singles play, and the doubles teams of Huebner-Gerston, Lock-Fong and Drew Froehlich-Matt Solomon all brought home victories.

The CCS championship showing bodes well for the future of Los Gatos tennis since the team is actually quite young. McAlister is the only senior in the group that includes juniors Froehlich, Gerston, Larssen, Fong, Chad Buthker and David Reagan; sophomores B. Brogan, Lok, Brandon Silberstein and Greg Thaler; and freshmen P. Brogan, Huebner, Solomon and Tin Tran.

Despite their youth, the Wildcats dominated at the league finals with B. Brogan and McAlister finishing one-two in singles play and Gersten and Huebner winning the doubles title.

B. Brogan won the league singles crown, beating McAlister in the finals. The Santa Clara Valley League singles, and Lee Gersten and Chase Huebner won the doubles.