Top Teams in South Coast Field

Newport Harbor High, Orange County’s top-ranked boys’ water polo team, could get its chance to prove its victory over Long Beach Wilson last week was no fluke as it begins play today in the South Coast Tournament.

The three-day tournament, which will be played at Newport Harbor, El Dorado, Tustin and Corona del Mar high schools, will feature nine of the county’s top 10 teams, including No. 2 Foothill, No. 3 El Toro and No. 4 Servite.

Also in the 32-team field is El Cajon Valhalla, Santa Barbara and Long Beach Wilson, which are all among the Southland’s best teams.

In the tournament final last year, Wilson edged Newport Harbor, 10-9.

“It’s the first big contest of the season and a great way to find out where your team stands,” Newport Harbor co-Coach Brian Kreutzkamp said. “However, before I worry about Long Beach Wilson, we’ll have to play San Clemente, which no one really knows anything about.”

The championship game will be played at 3:40 p.m. Saturday at Newport Harbor.

Games Thursday and Friday begin at 3 p.m.. Games Saturday start at 7:30 a.m. Admission is free.