Laguna Beach falls to Viewpoint in Division 4 final

CLAREMONT – If Laguna Beach was going to win a CIF-SS Division 4 title Wednesday, the Breakers were going to have to perform against a veteran team from Viewpoint that was looking to defend the 2010 crown.

In the end, maybe the moment was a little too big for the Breakers, as Laguna Beach came up short, losing 11-7 to finish as the CIF-SS Division 4 runner-up.

“Viewpoint had seven seniors in their lineup, and those seniors have that experience where they didn’t freak out today or choke,” Laguna Beach coach Peter Davidson said. “Our No. 2 and 3 doubles just didn’t have that experience, and we got swept.”

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One young player who didn’t wilt under the added pressure, Laguna Beach sophomore Teague Hamilton, closed the year on a strong note, sweeping all three of his singles matches.

“He’s just going to be a power over the next two years,” Davidson said.

The Breakers lose just two seniors, Jake Michaels and Benito Romeo, and Hamilton said he’s hopeful the championship experience can get his team over the top next season.

“We just need to step it up a little more,” he said. “It was really fun to play here in the championships.”

With Hamilton returning and Viewpoint losing a big chunk of its lineup, Davidson hopes to be back in the finals next year.

“With the right couple of guys coming up and the division being kind of weak, it seems like we might be able to take it next year,” Davidson said. “But, really, who knows? That’s a long ways away.”