Locals bounced at junior sectionals

FOUNTAIN VALLEY — The Huntington Beach contingent was gone after Saturday’s play at the 107th annual Southern California Junior Sectional tennis championships at Los Caballeros Sports Village.

Top-seeded Eric Nguyen of Huntington Beach fell in the semifinals of the boys’ 10 singles, 6-2, 6-4, to No. 3-seeded Connor Hance of Torrance.

“I wasn’t patient,� Nguyen said. “I was just trying to hit winners.�

Nguyen’s friend Max Cancilla, also of Huntington Beach, lost earlier Saturday in the quarterfinals of the boys’ 12 singles to Eduardo Nava of Woodland Hills, 7-5, 6-0. Cancilla, who won the boys’ 10s singles title at this tournament last year, was the No. 3 seed this year in the 12s.

He couldn’t quite hold on after opening up a 4-1 lead in the first set against the fast-charging Nava.

“He’s a hard hitter and he’s pretty good,� Cancilla said. “I just couldn’t close out the first set. He had a lot of confidence in the second set and just dominated.’

Also Saturday, Ocean View High senior-to-be Katie Cecil fell in the Round of 16 of the girls’ 16 singles. She lost to No. 3-seeded Riko Shimizu of Ojai, 6-1, 6-2.

The Southern California junior sectionals is the largest junior tennis tournament in the country.