CIF-SS boys water polo finals

At William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center, Irvine

Division VII

Katella 8, Valencia 5 (F)

Katella 8, Valencia 5 (1:14 left)

Katella 7, Valencia 5 (after 3)  - Katella coach Dave Mikesell is firing up his squad. In between the third and fourth periods, he yelled at one his players to play like a "beast" I love it. In the third, I

Katella 6, Valencia 5 (halftime) - In last year's final - Katella beat Valencia, 7-1, so this game is a heck of a lot more competitive. Katella starting goalie Dylan Peterson (knee) is in a wheelchair poolside but Valencia's press defense has been effective. Katella goalie Don Brown - a converted field player -has five saves but Valencia put away two perimeter shots in the second period.

I'm think and remembering Grafton Weiss today - the late coach of the Knights who died shortly after last season's final. I think his wife is here, holding the Knights' CIF plaque from laast year.

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BOYS WATER POLO
Division I semifinals

El Toro 10, Loyola 9 (F) Sophomore lefty Joey Fuentes scored with 2.2 seconds left and El Toro has sunk the top-seeded and undefeated Loyola, 10-9, in roller-coaster semifinal. Loyola had some key shots hit off post late in the game and the Cubs did missed a penalty but ET's Russell Renteria took over this game in the fourth.

Fuentes scored on a cross cage lob shot on the wing from about 6 meters coming out of a timeout. Gotta to believe Loyola was thinking about the R & R boys.

Loyola 9, El Toro 9 - Loy with ball 27 seconds left and about to come out of a timeout

- El Toro junior Russell Renteria has exploded for four goals in the fourth period and El Toro and Loyola are tied 9-9, with 2:05 left. RR has five goals.

- Russell Renteria scored the first two goals of the fourth but Loyola leads 9-8 with 2:40 left.

Loyola 7, El Toro 5 (3) Joey Fuentes scored on a nice pass from Joey Colton to get El Toro within one but Nikola Vavic scored on his second goal after a lineup and the Cubs extended their lead to two. El Toro is sending the extra player to offense a lot - mostly Russell R or Rascon

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