SOUTHERN SECTION WATER POLO PLAYOFFS : Costa Mesa Gets Out Fast, Holds Off Marina for Title

Robert Grayeli and Sean Hylton scored four goals apiece to lead Costa Mesa High to a 12-11 victory over Marina on Wednesday to win the Southern Section Division II water polo championship at Belmont Plaza in Long Beach.

“The emotion of losing [to Marina in the quarterfinals] last season carried us in the first half of the game,” Grayeli said.

Costa Mesa zoomed to a 7-1 lead late in the first quarter and never relinquished it en route to its fourth Southern Section championship.

Marina staged a rally by scoring five consecutive goals to bring the score to 7-6 with 5:29 left in the half.

Stever O’Rourke scored two of those goals, leading a charge that ended in Marina tying the score, 8-8, with four minutes left in the third quarter.

“Stever is just like a little monster--he’ll kill you,” said Brian Kreutzkamp, Costa Mesa coach. O’Rourke’s six goals led all scorers and gave Kreutzkamp a scare.

However, Hylton scored twice in the final three minutes to keep Costa Mesa on top.

In the Division III game, Sergio Macias scored eight goals to lead Bell Gardens to a 16-11 victory over Whittier. Edgar Villa added five for Bell Gardens, which won its first water polo title.

In the Division I final, Brian Brown scored six goals--five on six third-quarter possessions--to lead Foothill (27-1) to an 8-7 victory over Villa Park (26-5).

It is Foothill’s first Southern Section title in water polo.

In the Division VI game, Rowland beat Ayala, 11-6. Ric Harvey and Brian Kirby each scored three goals.

At Santa Barbara, Royal defeated San Marcos, 11-8, in the Division IV final.