Sunny Hills Coach Sprague Gets Chance to Back Up Boast in Water Polo Final

Jim Sprague, Sunny Hills water polo coach, is one game away from coming through on what, at the time, seemed like a boast.

Early this season, Sprague predicted the Lancers would win the CIF Southern Section 4-A championship. He said Sunny Hills had so much talent that anything but the championship would be a disappointment.

The Lancers get the chance to prove themselves at 8:30 tonight in Long Beach’s Belmont Plaza Pool when they play Corona del Mar for the title.

The Lancers are 28-0, and have got there with the help of Freeway League Most Valuable Player Erik Blum and a deep bench. A big addition this season was Jose and Javier Santiago, members of the Puerto Rican junior national team.

Sunny Hills defeated Newport Harbor, 10-8, in its semifinal match. This will mark the first season since 1974 that the Sailors have not made it to the final.

Corona del Mar needed a game-tying goal from Jason Likins with seven seconds remaining in regulation in its semifinal match against Long Beach Wilson to make it to the finals. The Sea Kings went two overtimes with the Bruins before Mike Story’s goal in sudden death won the match for Corona del Mar.

In 3-A action, El Dorado (25-5) a 9-8 loser to Hacienda Heights Wilson in last season’s final, will play No. 1 seeded El Toro (23-7) at 5:15 at Belmont Plaza Pool.