HIGH SCHOOL WATER POLO PLAYOFFS : Harvard-Westlake Takes 3-A Title

Harvard-Westlake rallied to defeat top-seeded Whittier La Serna, 9-5, for the Southern Section 3-A championship Wednesday at Belmont Plaza pool in Long Beach.

Trailing 6-5, at halftime, second-seeded Harvard-Westlake (29-3) put the clamps on La Serna (27-4) in the second half when sophomore goalie Peter Kiefer turned away 13 shots and started the counterattack with fine outlet passes. James Toring scored three goals, including the winner with 35 seconds left in the third quarter, to lead Harvard-Westlake.

In the 2-A final, Jody Cunningham and Matt Hernandez each scored three goals and top-seeded Santa Maria (25-2) held off a late Lompoc rush to win, 13-10, in a battle of Northern League rivals.

Lompoc’s Brent Albright put in a match-high five goals and teammate Seth Bean added four, but it couldn’t prevent the Braves (20-5) from losing for the fourth time in five meetings this year to Santa Maria.

In the 4-A championship, wild-card entry San Clemente upset No. 1-seeded Capistrano Valley, 9-5. Bryce Mathews scored three goals and Todd Pelkey added two to lead the Tritons (24-3). Capistrano Valley finished 22-5.