CLAREMONT – If it came down to showmanship, Laguna Beach and Redlands realistically could have shared the crown.
The Breakers dominated the hair game, each member of the team spray painting their locks to a shade of purple, blue or green. The Terriers had the edge in pre-match handshakes, however, each rehearsed greeting more elaborate than the next.
Top-seeded Redlands eventually proved it was much more than just flash, overwhelming Laguna Beach, 13-5, on Friday afternoon in the CIF-Southern Section Division 4 championship match at the Claremont Club.
It was the second straight year the Terriers (24-1) topped the Breakers (20-4) in the finale.
“We were a little outclassed today, but the guys had a great season and we’re proud of them,” Laguna Beach coach Don Davis said. “It was a great season. Our quarterfinal and semifinal matches were real tough. The guys came together in some tough circumstances, so we’re proud to have been here.”
In returning to the finals, the Breakers survived a pair of 10-8 matches earlier this week. Redlands, on the other hand, throttled the competition, never playing a match closer than 15-3 in the preceding four rounds.
The Terriers swiftly swept the opening round, 6-0, and captured their 10th point with matches still in play during the second.
Senior Patrick Cachapero dropped only one singles game on the afternoon, leading the Redlands charge.
Laguna Beach senior Ryan Gee won his final two singles sets, and the Sterling Dudley-Bowen-Nick Besso tandem did the same on the doubles side. Ethan Gee and partner Hayden Seitz collected the other Breaker point with a third round win.
Contact the writer: kconnolly@ocregister.com