The Preps : SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS : 4-A Badminton : Buena Park’s Long Wait Finally Ends

The big tease is over for the Buena Park High School badminton team.

After three tries in the past five years and three frustrating second-place finishes, Buena Park won its first 4-A Southern Section championship by defeating Nogales, 13-6, Thursday at Walnut High School.

“They wanted it bad,” Buena Park Coach Michelle Tafoya said. “We’re tired of losing. I knew they would do it. They’re tired of being second.”

Last year, Buena Park lost to Glendale in the 4-A final, 12-7; in 1987, Colton won, 15-4; and in 1985, Estancia won, 11-8. Buena Park won two 3-A titles before moving to the 4-A in 1984.

This year, Buena Park (20-0) swept through the first three rounds, before opening a big lead and coasting to the victory over a transformed Nogales team.

Coach Judy Smith switched her strongest players from singles to doubles, surrendering the singles matches and trying for a sweep in the doubles.

But Buena Park quickly spoiled that plan, sweeping the mixed doubles. A few matches later, the Coyotes had built an 9-2 lead and clinched the championship when Eva Phan and Sandy Chun beat Pone Meksavanh and Chanh Meksavanh in the girls’ doubles, 18-15, 15-12.

“I think switching the team around is a bad omen,” Tafoya said. “They have been playing in those positions all season. I knew they would be switching, but I wasn’t about to switch.”

Nogales (18-2) swept the boys’ doubles matches and took two of four in the girls’ doubles, but Buena Park’s singles swept for a crucial eight points.

Chulki Song took two easy matches in boys’ singles, defeating Steve Douangsithy, 15-9, 15-3, and Arthur Hsu, 15-0, 15-0. In the girls’ singles, Noy Sundara defeated Rupa Patel, 11-2, 11-0, and Bernice Lo, 11-0, 11-1.