PREP NOTES

For most of the season, the Corona del Mar and San Clemente water polo teams were ranked Nos. 1 and 2 in the Southern Section Division 4-A, so there was much interest in the Southern Section quarterfinal won by San Clemente, 14-13, in overtime Tuesday at Saddleback College.

The teams had met three times previously this season--San Clemente winning the season opener in overtime and Corona del Mar winning the title matches in the South Coast and North Orange County tournaments. The consensus was that the teams would meet again in the championship game. But San Clemente faltered, losing two of its last three South Coast League games, and had to play in a wild-card playoff game.

So more than a handful of high school water polo coaches were among the approximately 400 people who filled the Saddleback College pool deck for the match. San Clemente Coach Steve Yancey said he saw coaches from as far away as San Diego.

“They came to see the CIF final,” Yancey said. “That’s not to take away from the other teams, but all season people have been saying that these two teams are at a whole different level.”