WATER POLO CHAMPIONSHIPS : Bishop’s, Poway Finally Get Their Titles

When Bishop’s High School began its water polo program five years ago, its first opponent was the USDHS junior varsity.

Friday night at the Jewish Community Center, that 17-point loss was avenged in the most classic fashion, with top-seeded Bishop’s (22-4) scoring a 7-6 victory over No. 2 USDHS (16-10)--the varsity--to win the 2-A San Diego Section title.

“This is a euphoric feeling,” said the man who began Bishop’s program, Jim Fales. “We started the program five years ago with nothing. For it to come to this is just an incredible feeling.”

Bishop’s reached the finals last year but lost 21-16 to Valhalla.

“It was such a thrill to get to the finals last year, it didn’t hit me until a few months later, and I wanted to win so bad,” said Bishop’s John Haller, one of three starters from last year’s game. “Tonight I have that win.”

Haller scored three goals and his steal of a pass from Jeremy Kampp to Mike O’Beirne with three seconds left sealed the victory.

Reggie Norris and Oakley Brooks, two juniors, are the other starters from last year’s team. Norris scored two goals--the last with 45 seconds remaining--and Brooks was magnificent with 11 saves. Senior Erik Peterson also scored twice.

Tied at halftime, 2-2, USDHS tied the game with 5:55 left in the game on O’Beirne’s goal. But Haller answered 35 seconds later, and Norris scored his final goal after Kampp’s lob hit the crossbar. Tom Sanders scored USDHS’ final goal with 34 seconds remaining, and O’Beirne stole a pass with 17 seconds left before Haller’s heroics.

3-A Championship

Poway 14, Granite Hills 10--Since No. 2 Granite Hills eliminated five-time defending champion Coronado in the semifinals, No. 1 Poway (28-4) finally won its first championship. The Titans were beaten in the finals three of the past four years and lost to Coronado in the semifinals last year despite being the top-seeded team in the playoffs.

John Giulianotti scored six goals and Greg Mendenhall scored four times. Both were members of two previous varsity teams that fell short in the finals.

Giulianotti said he wasn’t disappointed that the victory came against Granite Hills (26-3), in its first title game, instead of Coronado: “A CIF title is a CIF title.”

And this one was won in the first nine minutes of the second half as Poway built upon a 6-5 halftime lead, outscoring Granite Hills, 6-2, during the first nine minutes of the second half.