Tuesday, May 20, 2014

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

Max Moscowitz is pumped after his win in a third-set tiebreaker at third singles gave Northern Highlands a 3-2 win over Demarest in the North 1, Group 3 state sectional final.

DEMAREST – Even though it was the second time playing in a third-set tie break against the same opponent in just over a 48-hour span, Northern Highlands' third Max Moscowitz knew this time was going to be much different and with a lot more pressure. He defeated Northern Valley/Demarest's Alex Sheinman in a third-set tiebreak in the semifinals of the Bergen County Tournament over the weekend and on Monday the two hooked up in another classic match, only this time it was with a lot more at stake.

With a section title on the line and the teams tied at 2 with Moscowitz and Sheinman being the only players left on the court, their match once again went to a third-set tiebreak with each team's season hanging in the balance.

Moscowitz, who had saved a match point earlier in the third set, scored the final four points of the tiebreak to clinch the match as second-seeded Northern Highlands won its first section title since 2008 with a thrilling 3-2 triumph in the North 1, Group 3 final over the top-seeded Norsemen at Northern Valley/Demarest High School.

“It's an unbelievable feeling to win this match for my teammates,” said Moscowitz. “We have four seniors on this team and we wanted this really bad. I just kept fighting hard through the pressure because I didn't want to let my team down.”

Demarest quickly grabbed the first two points with a 6-1, 6-3 win from Mike Rosenvasser at first singles and a 6-4, 6-2 win from Mike Sutnick and Ben Delin at second doubles.

Mike Rosenvasser gave Demarest a point at first singles with a 6-4, 6-2 win.

The Highlanders answered back as second singles player Robert Kresch scored a break midway through the first set to take control of his match before using steady play both at the baseline and at the net to win the final seven games en route to a 6-3, 6-0 victory.

At first doubles, Shawn Diniz and Kevin Maier broke open a close match with Demarest's Cory Freeman and Dylan Field with late breaks of serve in each set to pull out a 7-5, 6-3 win to even the match at 2-2. That left the the section title up for grabs at third singles just as the two players were heading to a third set. After Moscowitz won the first set, Sheinman used his punishing forehead as a major weapon throughout the second set to tie it at one set apiece with a third and deciding set still to play.

“We knew there was a good chance that it may come down to third singles and likely to a third set, which is exactly how it played out,” said Northern Highlands' head coach Ray Meizys. “Both teams fought hard all day. I knew Max had to dig deep for us and gut it out to pull out this match. I can't tell you how gratifying this win. To win this section is really tough and it's a dream come true for us.”

Moscowitz held a 4-3 lead in the third set when Sheinman went on his best run of the entire match. He got four consecutive first-serves in, three of which were not returned in winning the game at love. He then broke Moscowitz at love and took a 30-0 lead, winning ten points in a row to move two points away from victory. Moscowitz escaped by keeping the ball in play in breaking to tie the match at 5.

Sheinman broke right back and had a match point on serve in the 12th game of the third set. Moscowitz once again fought his way off the deck to win the ensuing point and then two more to force another third-set tiebreak. In Saturday's match against Sheinman, he fought back from a set down to win both the second and third-set tiebreaks with relative ease.

Highlands' Robert Kresch scored a break midway through the first set to take control in a 6-3, 6-0 win at second singles.

Yesterday's tiebreak would be anything but easy as Sheinman scored three straight points to grab a 5-3 lead. The two endured long rallies throughout the third set and all the way into the breaker. Moscowitz let the pressure get to him at times, but buckled down when he his back was against the wall. As he watched the final ball go out after winning his fourth straight point, he let out a yell that may have been heard all the way in Allendale.

“It felt so good to win that final point, I was really happy but also very relieved,” added Moscowitz. “Even after (Sheinman) won a bunch of points in a row, I just had to go back to what our coaches tell me. Play one point at a time and never give up on any point. We were both going to fight tooth-and-nail because the match was all on us. I stuck to my gameplan and tried to play as smart as I could.”

The section title was the first for Northern Highlands since 2008 and it advances to the Group 3 semifinals against South Jersey Group 3 champ Hammonton. That match will be played at 9:00 A.M. At Mercer County Park in West Windsor. If the Highlanders win, they will then play for the Group 3 state title at 1:00 P.M.

Regardless of how they do down there, just to be a champion and getting the opportunity to play against some of the state's best teams is an experience that this group will never forget.

“We're really excited to see how we do against some of the teams down there,” said Moscowitz. “I hope it doesn't come down to a match like this though. I feel like I just shaved 10 years off of my life.”

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