PREP WATER POLO / SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION II PLAYOFFS : Surprise Box Helps Marina Beat Servite

An unlikely hero emerged from Marina’s 14-13 overtime victory over Servite in the Southern Section Division II water polo semifinals Saturday at Mt. San Antonio College.

Senior Jason Box scored the game-winning goal from eight meters with 1 minute 32 seconds remaining to help third-seeded Marina (22-6) advance to the finals, where it will play top-seeded Costa Mesa.

Stever O’Rourke scored four goals, three in the second half, and Drew Balandis and Lance Banuk each added three for the Vikings, who lost to Servite in the semifinals last season.

“We knew we’d have to score a lot of goals to beat Servite,” Marina Coach John Wright said.

And Wright got some unexpected production from Box.

“Jason has a great arm,” Wright said. “He almost dropped out of the program earlier this season, but I told him to stick with it and that his time would be in the playoffs.

“His two goals today came out of nowhere.”

Box’s first goal came with 1:28 left in the third quarter and it was another long shot that gave Marina a two-goal lead, 10-8.

Servite sent the game to overtime by scoring four goals in the fourth quarter, two in the final two minutes.

David Cramp’s third goal made it, 12-11, with 1:47 remaining and Mike Lopez scored the equalizer with one minute remaining.

But eventually, it was a tough loss to swallow for second-seeded Servite (21-7).

Servite outshot Marina, 39-27, and had five shots hit the goal posts or crossbar. The Friars also played the majority of the game without Coach Jim Sprague, who was ejected with 19 seconds remaining in the second quarter for disputing a call with game officials.