Isaac Benscoter helped tip the scales, grinding out a tiebreaker victory at No. 1 singles over Seth VandenBerg, 6-4, 2-6, 11-9.

“He was absolutely nails,” MHS head coach James Christensen said of Benscoter. “One of his best singles victories.”

The match was tied 3-3 after singles, with Marshalltown adding wins from Caleb Rasmussen at No. 4 singles, 6-0, 6-1 over Jackson Squier, and Kyle Smith won 6-3, 6-2 at No. 6 singles against Brock Anderson.

MHS won all but one doubles match on Thursday, a No. 1 doubles victory for VandenBerg and Trent Kruger, 6-1, 6-0, over Benscoter and Jacob Christen.

T-R PHOTO BY JAKE RYDER - Marshalltown junior Caleb Rasmussen makes a forehand return during the No. 4 singles match on Thursday at the Marshalltown Court Complex. Rasmussen defeated Mason City’s Jackson Squier, 6-0, 6-1, to help the Bobcats to a 7-4 team victory.

The teams of Adam Boone and Rasmussen, Isaac Seberger and Tayven Dutton, Smith and Will Swartz and Elliot Kodis and Evan Roush all won their matches in straight sets to clinch the match over the Riverhawks.

“That momentum (from the Benscoter win) carried the team into doubles,” Christensen said. “Our 2-5 teams played at a high level while working out some early season kinks.”

Thursday’s win avenges an 11-0 thrashing by Mason City last season, and is the first win for the Bobcats in the series since 2022.

Next up for the Bobcats is Waverly-Shell Rock back at the home courts on Friday. The Go-Hawks are rated fifth in Class 1A in the preseason poll and were state dual semifinalists in 1A last year.

“This was a good tune up for a tough battle tomorrow,” Christensen said.

Marshalltown 7, Mason City 4

SINGLES

Isaac Benscoter (M) def. Seth VandenBerg, 6-4, 2-6, 11-9

Trent Kruger (MC) def. Adam Boone, 6-1, 6-4

Max Lang (MC) def. Jacob Christen, 6-1, 6-1

Caleb Rasmussen (M) def. Jackson Squier, 6-0, 6-1

Avery Beyer (MC) def. Isaac Seberger, 6-2, 6-2

Kyle Smith (M) def. Brock Anderson, 6-3, 6-2

DOUBLES

VandenBerg and Kruger (MC) def. Benscoter and Christen, 6-1, 6-0

Boone and Rasmussen (M) def. Lang and Squier, 6-0, 6-2

Seberger and Tayven Dutton (M) def. B. Anderson and Reid Anderson, 6-2, 6-3

Smith and Will Swartz (M) def. Beyer and Cam Graves, 6-3, 6-2

Elliot Kodis and Evan Roush (M) def. Alfonso Villarreal and Jack Boedeker, 6-1, 6-2