HIGH SCHOOL WATER POLO PLAYOFFS : Royal Earns Respect in 13-7 Defeat

Steve Snyder’s Royal High water polo team was given a list of choices. Think of it as a kind of multiple-choice test. In their second-round Southern Section 3-A Division playoff match Friday against top-seeded El Toro, the Highlanders could:

A--Roll over. “We could be whipped and humiliated,” Snyder phrased it.

B--Hang tough. “We could play the game of our lives,” he said.

C--Slay Goliath. “We could win it all outright,” he added.

The answer was, for Snyder, a resounding B.

The Highlanders (16-6), recent winners of their ninth consecutive Marmonte League title, led after one quarter before falling to El Toro, 13-7, at El Toro. Snyder called it one of the finest playoff performances by a Royal team.

“They just had too much strength and playoff experience in the final period,” Snyder said. “But I think we gained a measure of respect down there.”

El Toro (22-5) scored 11 of the match’s final 14 goals to undo the Highlanders who, despite 10 consecutive playoff appearances, have yet to reach the third round.

Devin Hurst scored four times in the first quarter as Royal jumped to a 4-2 lead. But El Toro forged a 7-6 lead by halftime. Hurst finished with five goals, concluding his career as the school’s all-time scorer with 317 goals.

In other 3-A matches:

Harvard 10, Fontana 5--Shane Loomis scored five goals and goalie Larry Bercutt had eight saves and added a goal on a length-of-the-pool shot to lead Harvard (25-4) at San Bernardino High. The Saracens will play Wednesday against Mission Viejo, which beat Hacienda Heights Wilson, 8-7.

Palos Verdes 10, Crespi 5--The Celts led, 4-1, midway through the fourth quarter at Harvard High before Palos Verdes opened up its offense to advance to the third round. Five Crespi players--Chris Peichel, Paul Vincze, Paul Suppa, Rusty King and Matt Stainner--scored once each, and goalie Tim Behrens made 10 saves.

Crespi, which was second in the Del Rey League, finished 16-8. All seven of the Celts’ starters return next season.