Los Alamitos wins CIF title on third try

By Earl Williams
Staff writer

The turkey will be a lot easier to digest for the Los Alamitos High boys water polo team this Thanksgiving Day.
After two failed attempts at winning the CIF Southern Section Division II title, the Griffins upset Villa Park, 8-7, before a huge crowd of supporters on Monday night at Belmont Plaza Pool.

Senior driver Scott Davidson received the ball over the counterattack and fired into the left side of the cage past Villa Park goalie Andy Stevens with 2:33 remaining as Los Alamitos (25-6) held on for the victory.

"I just got a pass on the counterattack. I was open, so I just faked once. The goal was open. I made it," said Davidson, who was practically speechless.

"Villa Park wanted it badly. They went through the regular season undefeated," junior 2-meter offensive player Clayton Snyder said. "We had it in our hearts that we would win this game. It shows that hard work and heart can prevail. I'm just happy I was able to fulfill my role. "I wouldn't expect anything less from Davidson."

The Spartans (32-1) had a chance to tie the score with 48 seconds left, when their star player, utility man Shea Buckner, who had scored more than 184 goals entering the match, missed a shot on a breakaway. His shot hit the top of the cage and veered right for Los Alamitos goalie Casey Simon to recover.

With the Spartans down 6-4 at halftime, Steve Bruner opened the third quarter with a goal to bring his team within one. Davidson responded with a goal as Los Alamitos got back its two-goal lead.

Bruner and Alex Churnside scored back-to-back goals to tie it at 7-7 to close out the quarter.

Snyder got the Griffins off to a good start in the first quarter, scoring his first goal less than a minute into the game. Then Seconds later, he muscled a backhand shot into the back of the cage to put his team up 2-0.

Snyder and Davidson led the Griffins with three goals apiece. Daniel Levin, who had five steals, scored a goal, as did Steve Brook, and Simon recorded six saves.

"We did it! We did it, man," Levin said. "More than anything, we just played our game. Buckner is a really strong player who we have a lot of respect for."

Los Alamitos coach Dave Carlson added: "The Lord really blessed me with some really fine athletes. This year, they really took care of business. They saved their best game for the end. The difference in this game was experience."