PREP PLAYOFF PAIRINGS : Water Polo : Sunny Hills Takes No Solace in No. 1 Seeding

Jim Sprague, Sunny Hills High School water polo coach, isn’t happy with his team’s position in the Southern Section playoffs.

It doesn’t matter that the Lancers are the No. 1-seeded team in the 4-A playoffs, Sprague is worried. And history shows he might have a reason to be concerned.

No top-seeded team has won the 4-A title since Newport Harbor in 1984, Sprague said. “It’s a scary fact . . . We’ve already reminded our kids of that fact,” he said.

Most of the Lancers probably don’t need to be reminded. In each of the last 3 seasons, Sunny Hills has been involved with the No. 1 team falling short of the title.

Last season, the Lancers entered the playoffs as the top-seeded team only to lose in the semifinals to Corona del Mar, 5-4. The Sea Kings went on to win the 4-A title, defeating Newport Harbor, 10-8.

In 1986, Sunny Hills beat Corona del Mar in the championship game, 7-6, handing the Sea Kings their first loss of the season. The Lancers’ victory that season was revenge for 1985, when the Sea Kings upset an undefeated Sunny Hills team in the final, 6-5.

“It seems strange to tell your team they’re in an underdog role when they’re the top seed, but that’s the way it’s gone the last few years,” Sprague said.

The Lancers and Sea Kings might again meet in the final, as Corona del Mar is seeded second in the 16-team playoff field. The teams have met 4 times this season, with Sunny Hills winning 3 of the matches.

However, neither team is assured of reaching the final.

“Sunny Hills and Corona del Mar are still the favorites, but any 1 of 6 or 7 teams could win it,” El Dorado Coach Tom Milich said. “It will be a dog fight.”

In the 3-A playoffs, the 2 top-seeded teams are from the South Coast League. El Toro is No. 1, followed by Capistrano Valley. Cerritos is seeded third and Marina fourth.

Capistrano Valley was the No. 1-ranked team until Oct. 26, when El Toro defeated the Cougars, 13-7, to win the league title. San Clemente finished third.

In 2-A, Magnolia (10-10) plays at Los Amigos (8-6) in 1 of the 4 wild-card games today. Four other county schools play in first-round games Thursday.