Erik Boal
CERRITOS -- Although both have a lot to deal with in preparation for
their respective CIF Southern Section Division III first-round matchups,
the members of the Crescenta Valley and La Canada boys' water polo teams
probably couldn't help but notice the opposite half of each other's
bracket.
Yes, the Falcons still have to get past a strong La Serna squad and
the Spartans will have their hands full with a much-improved Don Lugo
team, but should both teams emerge victorious Thursday at Pasadena City
College, they can look forward to facing each other in Saturday's
quarterfinals.
CV and La Canada are playing as part of a playoff tripleheader at PCC,
with Pasadena Poly hosting Workman in a Division VI contest at 3:15 p.m.,
followed by the Falcons meeting the Lancers in a rematch of a
regular-season meeting at 4:45 p.m., and capped off with Spartans hosting
the Conquistadores at 6:15 p.m.
Glendale -- the third local team competing in Division III -- must
travel to Palos Verdes Peninsula (14-10) at 3:15 p.m. today for a
wild-card contest, as does Flintridge Prep, which visits Cerritos Gahr in
a Division VI match.
Glendale at Peninsula: The Nitros (10-7) lost to Peninsula, 11-6, in a
nonleague match Oct. 9, but that was also the day before Glendale met CV
in their first of two Pacific League meetings, which Coach Pat
Lancaster's squad won, 22-14.
A Glendale win would set up a showdown at No. 2-seed South Pasadena on
Thursday.
Flintridge Prep at Gahr: The Rebels (13-10) and the Gladiators (14-7)
share two common opponents, with Flintridge Prep gaining a slight edge
based on the results.
In a pair of nonleague matches, Coach Sam Vierra's squad lost to
Cerritos, 17-12, and defeated La Quinta, 10-6.
Gahr -- which took second in the San Gabriel Valley League behind
Cerritos -- fell to the league champions, 18-14, but lost to La Quinta in
a nonleague match, 10-8.
La Serna vs. Crescenta Valley: CV, which captured the Pacific League
title Thursday with a 12-7 victory against Arcadia, will be seeking
revenge for an 8-6 nonleague loss to the Lancers (22-7) on Oct. 12.
The Falcons (13-10) led La Serna, 6-5, entering the fourth quarter of
that match, but leading scorer David Mulcahey received his third ejection
and the Lancers took control from there.
La Canada vs. Don Lugo: The Spartans (14-11) and the Conquistadores
(22-7) also shared two common opponents, with La Canada -- the Rio Hondo
League's second-place team and No. 4 seed -- defeating Peninsla, 6-5, and
Redondo, 10-2.
Don Lugo -- the Baseline League's second-place team -- lost to
Peninsula, 6-5, but defeated Redondo, 10-8.
Don Lugo also played La Canada's junior varsity in a tournament match
and won, 17-14.
