High school girls water polo
Southern California Regional finals
When: Saturday
Where: Long Beach City College
Tickets: $12 for adults and $8 for students, children and seniors, available online only at gofan.co.
Division 3: (1) Cathedral Catholic (27-4) vs. Lake Balboa Birmingham (20-9), 11 a.m.
Preview: Cathedral Catholic looks to become the third straight local team to win the Division 3 title. Senior Hilary Romero sparks the attack and freshman goalie Ainsley Grosz anchors the defense for the Dons, who have six freshmen on the roster. Cathedral has outscored its two regional playoff foes 32-8 overall to reach its second SoCal title contest. After a five-win season a year ago, Cathedral won the San Diego Section Division 2 crown. Birmingham claimed the Los Angeles City Section Open Division championship.
Division 2: (1) Clairemont (19-13) vs. (2) Valhalla (24-5), 12:30 p.m.
Preview: These schools each qualified for the regional tourney by reaching the semifinals of the San Diego Section Open Division playoffs. Clairemont goes for the regional title again after losing in its first finals appearance a year ago. Seniors Kylie Sagastume and goalie Ava Barclay provide veteran leadership. This is the second consecutive regional appearance for Valhalla, which fell in the quarterfinals last year. Sophomores Avery Boone and Giana Adams spark the Norsemen. Clairemont beat Valhalla 8-6 in their only regular-season meeting.
— GLAE THIEN
