Here are Santa Margarita girls water polo coach Brian Weathersby’s predictions for today’s CIF Division I semifinals — the reigning coach of the year is perfect so far — along with my picks for Division 1 and the rest of the O.C. semifinals.
Keep reading below for an inside scouting report at Ocean View’s foe — Santa Monica — from Temescal Canyon coach Damien Andrews, whose team fell to Santa Monica in the Div. 6 quarterfinals
Coach Weathersby’s predictions, comments
Division 1
Laguna Beach def. CdM The Fischer sisters will be too much for CdM. CdM will do a good job in the first quarter or two but Laguna Beach has a good counterattack that will show up in the second half.
Foothill def. Newport Harbor I believe Coach Barnett will have something up his sleeve and it will be a very close, tough game. But Cana Manzella will be a big lift for Foothill as they overcome the last few years and advance to the finals.
Albano’s semifinal predictions
Division 1
Laguna def. CdM
Foothill def. Newport
Division 2
El Toro def. Murrieta Valley
San Clemente def. Agoura
Division 3
M.L. King def. Troy
Division 4
Riverside Poly def. Mission Viejo
Division 6
Ocean View def. Santa Monica
Scouting report on Santa Monica from Temescal Canyon coach Damien Andrews, whose team fell to Santa Monica, 11-9, in the Div. 6 quarterfinals:
Santa Monica is a disciplined team on both sides of the ball. They are well coached. They are very effective on the counterattacks as well, good overall team speed. You have to stop several of their players to have a chance. Audry Hattori (sophomore) and Olivia Allen (junior)( both burned us for three goals. The goalie, Sierra Kelly, had eight saves against us and did a good job keeping them in the game when we were up early.