MATT’S MUSINGS: It’s still a net gain

CLAREMONT — Cerritos had been there before, and Laguna Beach hadn’t.

That point was pounded home early and often in the CIF Southern Section Division IV boys’ tennis title match Wednesday at The Claremont Club.

Cerritos’ school nickname fit like a glove as the Dons defended last year’s CIF title, while breaks of serve were rare for the Breakers.

The score might have been a bit lopsided, at 15-3, but Laguna Beach shouldn’t feel too bad. Cerritos didn’t lose a match all year.

Laguna Beach even brought out the star power in its quest for its first CIF boys’ tennis title since 1982. The most prominent member of that team, Rick Leach, was in attendance, rooting his high school on.

Leach, of course, went on to a great career at USC and nine Grand Slam doubles titles. Never one to create a scene, he dipped out quietly near the end of Wednesday’s match.

“He was here?” singles players Jake Michaels and Benito Romeo asked after the match, their spirits momentary lifted. “Did he watch me play?”

Leach seemed to stick more to his forte of doubles, and he saw some great things.

At No. 2 doubles, the Laguna Beach team of junior Christian O’Connor and freshman Hutton McKenna won a set, with McKenna showing great poise for a freshman and O’Connor’s blistering forehand causing problems for Cerritos.

At No. 3 doubles, the Breakers didn’t win a match, but Val Biscarrat and Paul Solomon subbed in and battled valiantly in the third go-round, even with the match already decided.

Biscarrat, a senior, usually subbed in this year for the Breakers. Yet he was one of three team captains, along with Michaels and senior Rex Miller.

“He’s always positive,” Michaels said. “He’s always just a good spirit. He doesn’t bring the team down. Really, I don’t think there’s one person on the team who brings us down.”

It was truly a united effort that led the No. 6-seeded Breakers all the way to the CIF title match, their first since 1983. In the end, Cerritos was tough, but there’s always next year.

That’s true for both teams. Laguna Beach loses just one senior starter in Miller, while Cerritos loses four.

However, the Dons’ singles players — Pilki Min, Ganesh Alagappan and Roy Yoon — are all sophomores.

So a rematch could be in store a year from now.

“There’s definitely a rivalry coming,” Michaels said.

The Breakers won’t be sneaking up on anyone next season, but that’s all right with them.

Coach Aaron Talarico was already so proud of his team, even before they stepped on the court in Claremont.

“I did not expect us to get [to the finals],” he said after the semifinal win over Cate. “The guys are just all for each other.”

MATT SZABO may be reached at (714) 966-4614 or at [email protected].