Kids These Days:

Throughout the years I have witnessed many exciting sporting events. But Saturday’s 15-14 victory by Estancia High School’s boys’ water polo team against Hoover High School of Glendale, for me, ranks up there with some of the epic collegiate and pro sports battles that I’ve seen unfold as a spectator in the stands.

In 1981, I was there when the USC Trojans and Oklahoma Sooners — which were each ranked No. 1 by two different college football polls — clashed at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. USC running back Marcus Allen ran for more than 200 yards and scored two touchdowns. But that wasn’t enough, and USC was in danger of losing by three points.

With four minutes left in the fourth quarter, however, Oklahoma was forced to punt. The Trojans marched down the field. On third down and eight, quarterback John Mazur completed a touchdown pass to receiver Fred Cornwell that sealed a USC victory in the game’s final seconds.

Most baseball fans never see a no-hitter live at a stadium. I have seen two, including one in which the pitcher who threw the no-hitter lost the game, 1-0. I also was at the Forum in Los Angeles when the 1971-72 Lakers beat the New York Knicks for the NBA championship.

I count Saturday’s epic water polo battle between Estancia and Hoover among those memorable sporting events. You won’t find this game featured on the ESPN highlights, but those who were there will always remember it.

The venue was Savannah High School in Anaheim, where a varsity water polo tournament was winding down. For those who aren’t familiar with water polo, here’s a brief description: Think of soccer being played in a swimming pool. Much of the action — and rule violations — occur underwater. If the referees could wear scuba gear, they’d be issuing red and yellow cards every few seconds. A water polo game is divided into four six-minute quarters. Water polo is as physically demanding a sport as you’ll ever see.

Saturday’s game was a seesaw battle from the first whistle. The two sides traded goals, averaging a goal almost every minute. Their styles of play couldn’t have been more different. Hoover played a physical game, relying on the offense of one player, who scored 13 of their 14 goals. Estancia worked the ball, involving everyone in the game and relying on finesse to score. Brute force seemed to be prevailing, as Hoover put two Estancia players on the pool deck with blows to the head. For three quarters, Estancia made no substitutions because it had no players as substitutes.

There were only a few Hoover and Estancia fans in the stands. Most of the remaining crowd, about 20 people, were from Savannah. Upset because of Hoover’s style of play, they cheered harder and harder for Estancia as the game wore on. Back and forth it went — 10-10, 11-10, 11-11 — until, with less than a minute to go and the score tied at 14, Hoover called a timeout.

Under normal circumstances, calling time is a good strategic move. Unfortunately for Hoover, they had no timeouts left. Estancia was awarded a free shot with 32 seconds left to go and the score dead even at 14. The crowd went berserk when Estancia scored to take a 15-14 lead. On a pound-for-pound basis, the noise level around the pool matched that of the Coliseum when the Trojans won in 1981. After the penalty shot, Hoover turned the ball over and Estancia wound down the clock to preserve the lead and win the game.

I cannot recall a sports contest with as much drama and excitement as the game I witnessed Saturday. Estancia won not only because they adjusted their defense around Hoover’s star player, but also because they never gave up. They just kept playing their style of offense. It was enough to keep them in the game.

When you are deciding what to do with yourself this week, this weekend and beyond, please keep high school athletics in mind, even if you have no children at the school. The kids on these teams are not playing for money or scholarships, just pride. It is sports the way you like it.

STEVE SMITH is a Costa Mesa resident and a freelance writer. Send story ideas to dailypilot@latimes.com