Regional crown for GH polo
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 
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In the preseason and throughout the regular season, members of the Grand Haven water polo squad weren't shy about expressing their belief that they could contend for a state championship this season.
The Bucs will get the chance to back up their words.
Grand Haven captured its first West Regional championship in program history on Saturday, as it scored an 11-9 victory over East Kentwood in the finals, in the process avenging two prior losses to the Falcons. The Bucs have been red-hot down the stretch, closing October with a 19-2 record. They hope their stellar play continues at the state meet in two weeks, as they open with Ann Arbor Huron on Nov. 13 at Birmingham Seaholm High School. Grand Haven will be joined at state by the runner-up Falcons, Rockford and Grandville.
"The guys definitely believe (they can win state). They've believed it all season," said Grand Haven coach Adam Briggs, whose team improved to 30-11. "As coaches, we thought we had a chance this year with the personnel we had coming back. We've been able to put in a game plan that's really worked and the kids believe in it. It's great because the kids go out there and never overthink things. They just play on instinct, and it's working out really well."
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The Bucs surely didn't disappoint on their path to the finals this past weekend, as they dismantled East Grand Rapids in their regional opener, 13-4. Grand Haven opened with a 9-0 lead, and was sparked by a pair of nice outside shots from junior Cody Duston.
Goal-scoring standout Noah Veach got into early foul trouble against the Bucs' next opponent, No. 6-ranked Grandville, but his teammates picked up the slack while he was on the bench until halftime. Sam Schulze, Jon Lown and Duston each contributed on the offensive end.
"The guys really locked down Grandville defensively, which helped us take a 6-3 halftime lead," Briggs said.
Schulze, the regional's Most Valuable Player, helped to finish off the 'Dawgs, as he exposed their 1-on-1 defensive strategy by drawing three personal fouls and an ejection on Grandville's top player. Schulze finished with four goals during the contest, a 10-5 Bucs' victory.
The Falcons' offensive balance and physical defense helped East Kentwood grab a 5-4 halftime lead over Grand Haven in the championship game, but three second-half goals from Veach proved to be critical. His empty-net goal with under a minute to play sealed the Bucs' fate, and helped them secure a 11-9 victory.
"We just played smart water polo," Briggs said. "We executed well and stepped up their play in big moments.
"The kids are motivated," he added. "They want it and it's really showing."
Schulze, a senior, finished the tournament with 14 goals. Briggs also commended the play of goalie Jared Sutherland, who again stepped in for Nate Koella and held his own in net.
