SOUTHERN SECTION WATER POLO PLAYOFFS : All Differences Aside, This Pair Helps Propel Costa Mesa

Sam Grayeli and J.R. Porter, water polo players for Costa Mesa High, are so similar in size they could wear each other’s clothes.

Grayeli is a 5-foot-11, 140-pound junior; Porter is a 5-10, 140-pound senior. But the similarities end there for the yin and yang of Costa Mesa water polo, who have led the Mustangs to their second Southern Section title match in three seasons.

Grayeli, the teams’ leading scorer with 125 goals in 31 matches, is an animated player who doesn’t like to let up even when the opponents are down. In his second season as a starter, he is already aiming for next season to break the school’s single-season record of 161 goals set by Corey Delahunt in 1990. He enjoys making one-on-one moves, which has led some teammates to joke about, “The Sam Grayeli Show.”

Porter, the second-leading scorer with 84 goals, is more unassuming and would rather give other teammates a chance to score in blowouts.

However, Porter says, “Sam’s also our leading assist man, so he’s not a complete ball hog. He’s a good all-around player.”

Grayeli says he simply wants to play his best, no matter what the score.

“I think we should stay aggressive the whole way through,” Grayeli said. “That will help us in the tougher games later on.”

Grayeli sometimes is frustrated when he perceives that his teammates are losing focus, which brings up another difference between the players.

“Sam is the more vocal player and he’s probably a little more emotional than J.R.,” Costa Mesa Coach Jason Lynch said. “J.R. will get excited but he rarely says anything. He just goes out there and does something about it.

“Sam will definitely let you know what’s on his mind.”

Both players are small by water polo standards, but that hasn’t hurt the Mustangs. In a Division III quarterfinal last Wednesday, Dos Pueblos guarded Grayeli with larger defenders to try to shut him down. He was held to three goals but had five assists in the Mustangs’ 9-7 victory. Meanwhile, Porter scored five goals.

“I don’t really get outmuscled,” Porter said. “There are games where it’s hard for me but I always try to adjust. I’ve always guarded bigger guys on defense so I am pretty used to it.”

Despite the two dominant scorers, Lynch attributes the Mustangs’ success to balance. The defense--anchored by Porter, Mike Curtis, Cary Petersen, two-meter guard John Naigle and goalkeeper Chris Avitia--is solid. Greg Felli adds to the offensive firepower from the two-meter position.

“The two don’t stand that far above the rest,” Lynch said. “The key is they play really well together--all of them.”

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Orange County water polo teams will play for championships in all four Southern Section divisions today at Belmont Plaza Pool in Long Beach.

El Toro will attempt to win its fourth section water polo title in five seasons when it plays North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake in the Division I championship match at 8:15 p.m.

The top-seeded Chargers (29-1), who won Division 3-A titles in 1988 and ’89 and a 4-A title in 1990, are led by first-team All-South Coast League players Daniel Mathot, Brandon Stout and Jason Murray. Third-seeded Harvard-Westlake (28-2) won the Division 3-A title last season.

In Division II, second-seeded Esperanza (26-3) will play Riverside Poly (22-8), which upset top-ranked La Serna, 6-5, in the semifinals, at 5 p.m.

In Division III, top-seeded Costa Mesa (23-8) will play Pacific Coast League rival Trabuco Hills (20-10) at 3:30 p.m.

In Division IV, top-seeded Los Amigos (22-8) will play La Verne Bonita (25-4) at 2 p.m.