Wilson Edges Rival Newport Harbor

The Southern Section Division I boys’ water polo final is still two months away, but it might be safe to print the programs.

That was the consensus after Long Beach Wilson and host Newport Harbor met Saturday for the championship of the South Coast tournament.

Top-seeded Wilson, winner of four consecutive Division I titles and eight of the last nine, avoided a second loss to second-seeded Newport Harbor this season, scoring two goals in the final 1 minute 8 seconds to post a 7-6, come-from-behind victory.

“I think we’ve kind of established ourselves as the top two teams,” said Newport Harbor Coach Jason Lynch. “I think it’s going to be a battle.”

Newport Harbor, which has four returning starters, began proving itself during the summer. The same group of players finished fourth out of 16 teams at the 18-and-under national championships. The year before, it finished 15th.

The biggest eye opener, however, came Sept. 13 in the season opener when the Sailors defeated visiting Wilson, 9-5.

“They rolled us by four last time, and it took everything we had to get them this time,” Bruin Coach Tony Martinho said.

The teams could meet again next month at the S&R; Sport Cup, although Wilson will be without starters Matt Sagehorn and Anthony Artukovich and Newport Harbor will be without starter Clay Jorth.

The three will be competing for the U.S. at the junior world championships in Buenos Aires.

Wilson and Newport Harbor are also entered in the TruWest Memorial Cup in San Jose at the end of October. The section final is scheduled for Nov. 22 at Belmont Plaza in Long Beach, the Bruins’ regular home site.

The only season in the last nine that Wilson did not win a title, in 2000, Newport Harbor did. Sagehorn, a Division I first-team selection last season, said he believes it will be somewhat harder for Wilson to repeat.

“It’s going to be back and forth all year,” he said.

Wilson won its last four section titles by a combined eight goals. Because of the Bruins’ experience in close games, they seem in control at every key moment, even when they’re behind.

After Newport Harbor (6-1) took a 6-5 lead with 3:35 left in the third quarter, it misfired on its final seven shots and committed six turnovers down the stretch.

The Bruins tied the score when Scott LaBounty batted in a cross pass from Tim Gross. Jacob McIntosh then knocked away a shot from Clinton Jorth to nullify a man-advantage situation.

The deflected shot was picked up by a Wilson defender and passed back to McIntosh, who found Sagehorn on a counterattack. Newport Harbor goalkeeper Bryce McLain tried to cut down the angle, but Sagehorn lobbed the game-winner over his head and into the back of the net with 30 seconds remaining.

“We’re countering as hard as we can every play,” Martinho said. “Newport does a very good job swimming with us.”

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La Canada has established itself as the team to beat in Division III after finishing third at the South Coast tournament.

The Spartans defeated Lake Forest El Toro, 10-8, in the third-place game after falling to Wilson, 13-9, in the semifinals.

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Top performers

GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL

* Devon Dykstra and Rebecca Saraceno, Redondo: Dykstra had 15 kills and Saraceno added 14 for the host Sea Hawks, ranked No. 3 in the Southern Section Division II-AA coaches’ poll, in a 25-21, 25-13, 25-21 nonleague victory over No. 7 Huntington Beach Edison, the defending Division II-AA champion.

BOYS’ WATER POLO

* Ryan Paris, Agoura: The sophomore goalkeeper earned MVP honors at the Ventura Buena tournament and led the Chargers to the team title with 13 saves in a 9-5 victory over the host Bulldogs in the title game and 11 saves in a 9-5 victory over Thousand Oaks in the semifinals.