Irvine

El Toro 11, Newport Harbor 9 (F)  The Chargers controlled this one early and often. Too much outside shooting, counter chances for the R and R boys and way too much Garrett Danner in cage for the Sailors to overcome. The Olympians poolside couldn't stop asking me about the number of saves by Danner or talking to themselves about his grade level - a sophomore

El Toro 11, Newport 8 (44 seconds left) Newport has called timeout

El Toro 10, Newport 5 (after 3) And you thought Bret Bonanni was the only shooter here at Irvine today.  Joey Colton and Russell Renteria have scored near mid-pool goals in this explosive third period. I did not expect 10-5 after three periods. ET didn't even draw an ejection in the third.

El Toro 9, Newport 5 - 1:18 left in third

El Toro 6, Newport Harbor 3 (H) Nick Rascon has three goals, including a big one on extra coming out of a timeout with late in the first half to make it 6-3. Zach Lucas has two for the Sailors. Newport Harbor is hitting a lot of posts - just like Loyola did - but Garrett Danner is looking tough

El Toro 5, Newport 3 (1:44 left)

El Toro 5, Newport 1 - timeout Newport 4:50 left in the first half

El Toro 3, Newport Harbor 1 (after 1)  El Toro has perimeter strikes from Nick Rascon and James Rude and a backhander from Russell Renteria. Zach Lucas scored from the perimeter for Newport. Garrett Danner two saves for El Toro.

CIF Division II final

Mater Dei 12, JSerra 8 (F) Bret Bonanni scores five goals as the Monarchs' show off their shooting skills.

Mater Dei 12, JSerra 8 - The soph has sccored the first goal of the fourth - his fifth of the game. Mater Dei in control 2 minutes left

Mater Dei 11, JSerra 8 (after 3) The Lions cut to Mater Dei's lead to 9-8 with 1;26 left in the third on a goal on extra by Luke Hewko but Mater Dei responded with two goals - a backhander from set David Guibord and Bret Bonanni on a foul outside 5 - again

Mater Dei 9, JSerra 7 (3) 1:34 left in third and Alex Wherry has his picked up second foul - JSerra on extra

Mater Dei 8, JSerra 5 (H) Six of the Monarchs' goals are on perimeter strikes. JSerra had a power play chance coming out of a timeout with 1:24 left in the first half to get within one goal but didn't convert. Mater Dei's Christian Grant later added a goal for the Monarchs.

Great crowd here. Pretty much capacity. JSerra defense is no longer fouling outside 5 meters

Mater Dei 4, JSerra 2 (after 1) Super-soph Bret Bonanni has three goals, including two off fouls outside 5 meters. JSerra just can;t foul outside 5 meters.

CIF boys water polo finals

At William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center, Irvine

Division VII

Katella 8, Valencia 5 (F)

Division VI

Webb 10, Rio Mesa 7 (F)

Division V

El Segundo 9, El Segundo 7 (F-OT)

Division IV

Palos Verdes 6, Mira Costa5

Division III

Montebello 8, Murrieta Valley 7

CIF BOYS WATER POLO FINALS

Saturday
All matches at William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center, Irvine

DIVISION VII

No. 2 VALENCIA (20-5) vs. No. 1 KATELLA (21-10), 9:30 a.m.

Outlook: The top-seeded and defending champion Knights are one victory away from achieving their goal of capturing a title for their late coach, Grafton Weiss.

The popular, veteran coach died in 2008, just a week after helping guide the Knights past Valencia, 7-1, in the first-ever CIF Division VII title match. If Katella repeats, it will have to do so without standout goalie Dylan Peterson. The junior suffered a season-ending knee injury late in the regular season and has not played in the postseason.

In last season’s Division VII final, Peterson made 17 saves.

Field player Donald Brown has replaced Peterson in goal.

Valencia’s defense – which has allowed 4 goals per game in the playoffs – is led by goalie Ryan Jackman. The teams split their two league matches for the second consecutive season. The Tigers first won at Katella, 5-3, while the Knights bounced back to win at Valenica, 12-4.

Prediction: With its array of left-handers, defensive capabilities and the championship coaching of Dave Mikesell, Katella is the class of the division. The Knights showed it in the second round of league against Valencia. Katella will repeat but without Peterson in the cage, the winning margin isn't as large this time.

After the match, Katella pays major respect to Weiss.

CIF BOYS WATER POLO FINALS

Saturday
All matches at William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center (adjacent to Irvine High)

DIVISION II

No. 2 JSerra (18-9) vs. No. 1 MATER DEI (25-5), 2:45 p.m.

Outlook: The top-seeded and defending champion Monarchs defeated second-seeded JSerra, 8-6, in what turned out to be the Trinity League championship match.

The score was tied at halftime but Alex Wherry sparked the Monarchs in the third period by scoring four of his match-five goals. On Wednesday, the senior ripped the net for seven goals in a 17-6 victory against Villa Park in the semifinals. But Mater Dei’s firepower doesn’t stop with multi-talented Wherry.

Sophomore attacker Bret Bonanni has 95 goals while center David Guibord has 50. Mater Dei’s focus, however, will likely be on defense.

JSerra’s showed its offensive capabilities in a 14-8 victory against Servite in the semifinals. Attacker Nick Santala led seven Lions in scoring with five goals.

Attacker Luke Hewko leads JSerra with 87 goals. Santala (65) and center Macrae Carden (55) round out the Lions’ top-three scorers. And like Mater Dei, JSerra’s focus will likely be on defense and how it defends Wherry. JSerra is making its first appearance in a CIF final while the Monarchs are playing in their third consecutive finale.

Prediction: Both teams have their share of sharp-shooters but defense decides this match. Mater Dei is the better defensive squad. JSerra will push Mater Dei into the fourth period this time but the Monarchs will follow Wherry's lead on both ends of the pool and claim a second consecutive championship.

In a postgame interview, Mater Dei coach Chris Segesman is asked about the Monarchs and the Trinity League being moved to Division I starting next season. Segesman responds, "We can't wait."