When the Spartans finally arrived at El Toro, match officials told
Naeve that his team would have only 10 minutes to warm up prior to
the contest.
To avoid a repeat performance, maybe La Canada could have traveled
Wednesday night to Long Beach so that it would be assured promptness
for today's match.
In fact, the Spartans will roll up the kind of mileage that most
other teams wouldn't during a 10-week season. They will compete in
the Coronado Tournament Friday and Saturday in San Diego, and still
have two trips to Villa Park and one each to Anaheim, Manhattan
Beach and El Segundo.
Some good news came out of Tuesday's mishap. La Canada received
the bus ride free of charge.
A chance to pull rank: Two weeks into the season, there might not
be a more underappreciated team in the CIF Southern Section than
Flintridge Prep.
Despite victories against Division I Sherman Oaks Notre Dame and
Division III opponents Bell Gardens, Glendale, San Marino and Santa
Monica -- all en route to winning the Bell Gardens Tournament -- the
Rebels (9-0) are only ranked No. 7 in Division VI. But Brad
Netherton's squad will have an opportunity to change all that
beginning today, as Flintridge Prep is scheduled to compete in the
29-team Hacienda Heights Rowland Tournament.
The Rebels -- who are scheduled to compete in pool-play
competition today and Friday at Whittier La Serna High -- are one of
five ranked teams in Division VI competing in the event, including
No. 2 Hacienda Heights Los Altos, No. 3 San Bernardino, No. 4 Rancho
Palos Verdes Chadwick and No. 9 Rowland.
Three other teams ranked in Division V are also part of the
tournament field, led by No. 4 Murrieta Valley, in addition to
Whittier California, which is ranked No. 9 in Division III. In
addition, traditional powers Bell Gardens, La Serna and Simi Valley
Royal are all entered.
Flintridge Prep will open the tournament against Arcadia at 4
p.m. Should the Rebels win, they would play again at 6:15 p.m.,
against either La Habra Sonora or Chino Don Lugo.
