The Bloomfield boys' tennis team battled to the end Tuesday night before falling to the once-beaten Barr-Reeve Vikings 3-2 on the road.

The Cardinals picked up straight-set wins at No. 2 and No. 3 singles but couldn't pull out the match winning point even though both doubles went three sets.

Senior Willy Scott was the first player off the court with an easy 6-1, 6-1 over Willie Helms.

Joel Oliphant brought in the second point by getting past Christian Duncheon 6-4, 6-4.

Those were the only points the Cardinals could manage. No. 1 singles Derek Corn dropped a long 6-3, 6-2 decision to Hogan Helms.

The No. 1 doubles team of Holden Hamm and Austin Schulte got off to a quick start winning the first set easily but they couldn't maintain the intensity and dropped a three set decision to undefeated Kendal Murphy and Luke Harmon 2-6, 6-2, 6-0.

One bright spot in the losing effort was the play of the No. 2 doubles team of Jacob Chestnut and Mitch Hobson. The Cardinal pair were downed 7-6(4), 5-7, 6-4 by Louis Murphy and Brandon Graber but they fought and clawed their way down to the final point.

I have said from day one that we have to get better in doubles. We have good strong singles but there will be times we can't sweep doubles and we'll have to have doubles wins. Today's play shows me we are getting better in doubles but we still have to improve if we are going to have a shot at a sectional title.

Things won't get any easier Wednesday for Bloomfield, who continues on the road at North Central for a 4:30 p.m. match.

Varsity

Barr-Reeve 3, Bloomfield 2

Singles:

1. Hogan Helms , BR, d. Derek Corn, 6-3, 6-2

2. Willy Scott, B, d. Willie Helms , 6-1, 6-1

3. Joel Oliphant, B, d. Christian Duncheon , 6-4, 6-4

Doubles:

1. Kendall Murphy and Luke Harmon , BR, d. Holden Hamm and Austin Schulte, 2-6, 6-2, 6-0

2. Louis Murphy and Brandon Graber , BR, d. Jacob Chestnut and Mitch Hobson, 7-6(4), 5-7, 6-4

Junior Varsity

Barr-Reeve 3, Bloomfield 0

Doubles:

1. Ryan Graber and Jonathan Gingerich, BR, d. Curtis Hasler and Kyle Doane, 8-2

2. Matt Roher and Nick Hawkas , BR, d. Jacob Weaver and Brandon Thornsbury, 8-1

3. Josh Lottes and Landon Lengacher , BR, d. Kyle Doane and Stephen Petho, 8-2