Nitros, Tornadoes continue CIF quests
The following are playoff previews of today’s events involving local teams.
BOYS’ WATER POLO
Glendale vs. La Serna at La Mirada Splash!, 2 p.m.: After opening the CIF Southern Section Division V playoffs Wednesday with a 20-10 win against Webb at Burbank High, the Nitros figure to have a more difficult task at hand against fourth-seeded La Serna.
The Nitros, who won the Pacific League championship for the first time since 2002, got six goals from David Papazian and five from Martin Chatalyan against Webb.
La Serna, the No. 4 seed, opened with an 11-8 win against Crescenta Valley at home. La Serna captured the Del Rio League crown.
The teams met earlier in the season, with La Serna winning.
The winner will meet top-seeded Bonita or Chadwick in a semifinal match at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Mount San Antonio College.
Palm Desert vs. Hoover at Burbank High, 3:30 p.m.: Hoover received a buzzer-beating goal from Hakop Kaplanyan, the reigning All-Area Boys’ Water Polo Player of the Year, to register a 14-13 Division V first-round win at Mount San Antonio College on Wednesday. Hoover (16-6) will look to keep its season going against second-seeded Palm Desert (22-8).
Palm Desert began its playoff run with a 21-6 home win against Flintridge Prep. Palm Desert, which won the Desert Valley League title, had five man-advantage goals and five five-meter goals.
The winner will face third-seeded Pasadena Poly or Palm Springs in a semifinal match at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Mount San Antonio College.
GIRLS’ TENNIS
El Dorado at Crescenta Valley, Noon: Crescenta Valley began the CIF Southern Section Division II playoffs Thursday with a 13-5 home win against La Cañada on Thursday. The Falcons (16-2) will next face fourth-seeded El Dorado, which won the Century League championship and started off the playoffs with a 14-4 victory against St. Lucy’s. The Golden Hawks are 23-1.
Crescenta Valley girls’ Athletic Director Peter Kim said if today’s match is rained out, it would then be played at 1:30 p.m. Monday.
The winner will take on Pasadena Poly or Diamond Bar in a quarterfinal match at 2 p.m. Tuesday.
Newport Harbor vs. Flintridge Prep at Scholl Canyon Tennis Center, 2 p.m.: After opening the Division II playoffs Thursday with a 12-6 win against Dos Pueblos, the Rebels (14-4) will face a Newport Harbor team they fell to in the second round of the playoffs last season.
Third-seeded Newport Harbor (17-1) posted an 18-0 opening round win against Chaparral and captured the Sunset League title..
Flintridge Prep Athletic Director Alex Rivera said if today’s match is rained out, it would then be played at the same time and place Monday.
The winner will take on Anaheim Canyon or Arcadia in a quarterfinal match at 2 p.m. Tuesday.
CROSS-COUNTRY
Four local teams are scheduled to participate in the CIF Southern Section Division prelims at Mount San Antonio College in Walnut. They are the Flintridge Prep boys’ and girls’ teams, along with the Crescenta Valley and Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy girls’ programs.
Both Flintridge Prep squads will participate in the Division V competition. Crescenta Valley and Flintridge Sacred Heart will participate in Division I and IV, respectively.
Flintridge Prep’s boys’ team won the Prep League championship for the 19th time in the last 20 years and the girls’ placed fourth in league.
Crescenta Valley placed second in the Pacific League after having won the previous eight league championships. Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy took third in the Mission League.
Sacred Heart will run in its heat at 9:33 a.m., while Crescenta Valley will take part at 11:22 a.m. Flintridge Prep’s girls’ team will run at 12:39 p.m., with the Prep boys following long after at 3:38 p.m.
The finals will take place Nov. 19 at the same venue.
