Sailors’ Final Act Swamps Foothill

Newport Harbor saved its best game for the last game of the season as the Sailors defeated Foothill, 15-9, in the Southern Section Division I final to win their 11th boys’ water polo section title Wednesday at Belmont Plaza in Long Beach.

It was the first title for Newport Harbor since 1984, and the first appearance in the finals since 1987.

The top-seeded Sailors put on a passing and shooting clinic, converting 10 of their first 15 shots, to take a 10-5 halftime lead.

“That was the best game we’ve ever played,” Newport Harbor Coach Brian Kreutzkamp said. “These guys were shooting unbelievably.”

Newport Harbor (26-5) took a 3-0 lead in the first 2 1/2 minutes of the game, scoring on its first three shots, including Peter Belden’s four-meter penalty shot to open the game.

“That just set the tone,” Kreutzkamp said. “We came out hard and got their backs against the wall and forced them to take bad shots.”

Belden was the dominant force on both ends of the pool. He scored four goals on six shots had four assists, three steals and won all four sprints.

“Offense, defense, sprints, counter attacks, he did it all,” Kreutzkamp said. “He is the best there is on both ends of the pool.”

For Belden, a senior, the victory was long overdue.

“I’ve waited four years for this,” he said. “It’s about time. I can’t even begin to describe how this feels.”

Steven Jendrasina scored four goals and Gregory Worthing and Ryan Cook each had two for Newport Harbor.

Much of the focus this week had been on Foothill goalkeeper Ian Elliott, but it was Sailor goalie Brandon McLain who sparkled.

McLain helped keep Newport Harbor’s momentum early making four of his eight saves in the first quarter.

Kreutzkamp said it was the best he’d ever seen McLain play.

“[The coaches] told me not to be afraid,” McLain said. “They told me don’t be too jumpy and just be patient. That paid off.”

On the other end of the pool, Elliott didn’t have much of a chance. The Sailors used their superior speed on the counter, and that, combined with superb perimeter passing, left Elliott with a lot of open water between him and the Sailor shooters.

“You know we were shooting good to score that many goals against him,” Kreutzkamp said. “Elliott is the best keeper in the county and probably the section.”

Third-seeded Foothill (19-12), which won its only title in 1995, was led by Blake Seymour and Wes Fox, with three goals each. Elliott finished with five saves.