Seesaw season ends for Laguna

Mission Viejo knocks out Breakers in first round of playoffs.A season full of ups and downs has come to an end for the Laguna Beach High boys’ water polo team.

The Breakers were eliminated from the CIF-Southern Section Division I playoffs following a 10-8 loss to South Coast League champion Mission Viejo on Nov. 11.

It was the third meeting of the season between the teams, who split their first two matches.

“I knew that it was going to be a tough game,” Laguna coach Rick McKee said of the first-round playoff match. “We played well enough to win. We didn’t capitalize on some key opportunities in the game that would have given us the momentum to win.

“The key difference in the game was their goalie. He had a great game.”

The loss ended Laguna’s season at 19-11, a season in which the Breakers showed signs of being world-beaters but often failed to play up to their potential, McKee said.

The landmark victory of the season came against Newport Harbor on Oct. 20.

That 13-11 win over the Sailors, ranked first in Divison I, county and state rankings, was the first victory by a Laguna team over Newport Harbor.

“This was a season of dramatic shifts in play,” he said. “What I mean by that is there were times, like against Newport and Northwood, where we looked as though we could beat anyone. There were games, like against CdM, where we looked like we could lose to anyone.

“We really felt that we could have won league and gone further into CIF. This team could not find the consistency to do that. However, with that said, overall we had a great season. Beating Newport, Mission, Santa Margarita twice and taking Northwood into overtime, were just a few of the great games that we played.

“There were many out of water distractions that could have ripped this team apart; yet the guys hung in there and the mettle of their character showed through. So, I guess you could say that it was a very successful season.”

Senior center Mike Dick and senior attackers Adam Kaplan and Kelan Hurley played their final games for Laguna.

“Mike Dick is an outstanding player, probably one of the top three centers in Division I,” McKee said. “He is sort of a quiet leader. However, his presence was always known.

“Adam has a great outside shot and is an extremely fast swimmer. Kelan is a very versatile player. We could rely on him to do just about everything asked of him.”

Laguna has a solid foundation of players returning in 2006, including Cameron Brinkman, Peter Phelps, Pierre Masson and Nathan McConnell, each of whom started in games this year.

Johnny Holcomb, who is coming off shoulder and knee surgery, also will be back in the lineup, as will sophomore Warren Murrel, whom McKee says will be a “very solid goalie.”