VIKINGS TOP PANTHERS TO EARN SOCAL CROWN

Senior Weston Bancroft transferred to La Jolla High School two years ago and ended up helping the Vikings win their first Southern California Regional boys water polo championship.

Bancroft scored the last of his three goals with 1:00 left to help second-seeded La Jolla hold off Vista 13-12 in Saturday’s Division II championship game at Mt. San Antonio College.

Bancroft’s final score gave the Vikings (22-7) a 13-11 edge in their second finals appearance. Arron Horst’s third tally pulled Vista within one goal with 39 seconds left. La Jolla prevailed when defender Dustin Drobeck blocked the Panthers’ final shot.

“It’s nice to end the season with a win,” Vikings coach Tom Atwell said by phone. “There are only six teams in the entire state that get to do that. A lot of guys played a role for us.”

La Jolla, with 10 seniors, also avenged a 9-7 to loss to the No. 5 Panthers (23-11) in their only regular-season meeting on Oct. 26.

Senior West Gartland finished with three goals as well for the Vikings, who never trailed after taking a 4-2 lead with the last four goals of the first quarter.

Horst and Ryland Griffiths each recorded three goals to spearhead Vista, which returned to the Socal finals after losing to Cathedral Catholic in last year’s title game.

The Vikings opened up a 12-8 lead early in the fourth quarter before Vista mounted its comeback bid. Drobeck and Soren Martin also each added two goals for La Jolla, which reached the San Diego Section Open Division semifinals this season.

The Socal Division II semifinals consisted entirely of local teams, including Santana and Classical Academy.