It’s Time to Learn Who Is for Real

There’s rarely any debate over which team is No. 1 in boys’ water polo. The dozen or so that routinely lay claim know they’ll have more than one opportunity to prove it during the season.

For the last 32 years, one of the first chances to claim supremacy has come in the South Coast tournament, hosted by Newport Beach Newport Harbor High.

The 33rd tournament is scheduled to begin Thursday at four locations, with the final set on Saturday at Newport Harbor.

“The top 10 teams are basically the same every year, and they always play each other,” said Lake Forest El Toro Coach Don Stoll, whose Chargers are among the top-seeded teams in the 72-team tournament.

Corona del Mar is the top-ranked team in The Times’ poll.

The Sea Kings, two-time defending Southern Section Division II champions, are top-seeded in the 18-team bracket at Corona del Mar High.

Seeded second is Long Beach Wilson, winner of four of the last five Division I titles.

The top-seeded team at Tustin High is La Jolla The Bishops, a San Diego Section Division II finalist last season.

San Clemente, led by U.S. national youth team member Logan Powell, is seeded second.

Anaheim Servite, ranked second by The Times, is top-seeded at Placentia El Dorado High, setting the stage for a possible quarterfinal match Friday against Santa Ana Foothill.

Foothill, ranked fourth, is coming off an 8-5 victory last week against No.3 El Toro.

El Toro is top-seeded at Newport Harbor, where Saturday’s championship game is scheduled for 3:40 p.m.

Villa Park, which lost on a controversial buzzer-beater in last season’s championship game against San Clemente, is seeded second.

Huntington Beach Edison, which lost in the semifinals Saturday at the Poway tournament, and Laguna Beach are the other teams in The Times’ top 10 scheduled to play.

North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake, ranked eighth, is the only top-10 team not entered in the tournament.

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At a Glance

Who: Boys’ Water Polo.

What: South Coast tournament.

When: Thursday-Saturday.

Where: Corona del Mar, El Dorado, Newport Harbor and Tustin high schools.

Fast Fact: Newport Harbor will host the final Saturday.

Admission: Free.