The tour of the LoHud took me to North Rockland today, where I watched Clarkstown North beat the host in tennis, 5-2. Both teams had one loss coming in. North Rockland’s only loss was to Clarkstown North. That one was a 4-3 nailbiter where three of the four doubles matches went three sets.

Today didn’t quite live up to that level of excitement, although there were a few tiebreakers.

The key matches were at third singles and third doubles. Everyone pretty much knew how first and second singles and doubles were going to go.

The Rams have two top singles players in Jillian Cooper and Laurena Patarkatsi. Patarkatsi is undefeated this season. Both took care of business today. Cooper won 6-2, 6-2 and Patarkatsi won 7-5, 6-1. She was aided by painful tendinitis in the ankles of opponent Deborah Massaro.

Likewise for North Rockland’s top two doubles tandems, which are extremely well regarded. They also won in straight sets. Jenna Persico and Rachel Bohlander won 6-2, 6-2. Courtney Campbell and Jessica Lee Ramsay won 7-6 (6), 6-3.

So the suspense lay in third singles and doubles. At third singles, North freshman Remy Brazee was in just her third singles match all year. She had been doubles until recently when she moved up. When these teams met last time she was still in doubles, and North Rockland took third singles.

Brazee’s 6-1, 6-2 victory was the difference between last time and this time.

At third doubles, Lara Tarle and Samantha Wolff (above) held what some believed was the biggest swing match. If they fell to North Rockland’s duo, then the Red Raiders had a good chance at fourth doubles and overall victory.

They squelched those hopes with a 6-3, 7-6 (3) win.

North’s fourth doubles team went on to win in a third set tiebreak anyway.