Water Polo

The Huntington Beach and Edison boys' water polo teams competed last week at the Villa Park Classic, where the Oilers finished runner-up and the Chargers in 16th place. Huntington, ranked fifth in CIF Division 1, reached the final of the tournament on Saturday, where the Oilers came up short against fourth-ranked El Toro. The Oilers were down, 9-7, in the fourth quarter but the Chargers were able to pull away to a 13-8 victory. Max Schultz scored three goals, Noah Harrison scored twice and Brandon Lucia had 11 saves for the Oilers.

Brian Anderson didn't call it his team's best effort. Still, his Huntington Beach Oilers had more than enough to take care of Servite on Tuesday in boys' water polo action. The Oilers were without the services of two players - including primary hole-set Ian Arnold (illness) - for the key nonleague matchup with the visiting Friars, but their depth and balance paid huge dividends in a 14-9 victory. Huntington led, 4-0, after one quarter and was in front, 10-3, by the half, in improving to 11-2.

Barons start in Nevada again The Fountain Valley High football team opens its 2011 season Friday in Henderson, Nev., against Green Valley. The Barons have a bye week next week and return to action Sept. 8, when they host San Clemente. Fountain Valley is coming off a 3-6-1 season. * Several locals ranked in CIF The CIF Southern Section office released preseason polls for girls' volleyball and boys' water polo on Tuesday, and several local teams were ranked.

Huntington Beach Water Polo Club teams turned in strong performances Saturday and Sunday at the Southern Pacific Zone Junior Olympic Qualifiers for age-group teams. Tournament sites included the William Woolett Aquatic Center in Irvine, Beckman High and the Santa Ana YMCA. The 10-and-Under coed team, boys' 12U team, both the 14U boys' Blue (A) and Orange (B) teams and the girls' 14U team, competed at the event in order to qualify for Junior Olympics scheduled for last-summer in southern California.

The Huntington Beach Water Polo Club 12-and-Under boys' team won its division Sunday at the Winterfest Tournament at Northwood High. Huntington played four games on a Saturday schedule that began at 7:30 a.m. The team defeated Laguna Beach (10-5), Corona del Mar (11-4), Commerce and Rose Bowl, the latter in a game where Huntington came back from a 4-0 first-quarter deficit to earn a 9-8 win. On Sunday, Huntington defeated host Northwood, 8-5, in the title game. Twelve teams competed for the division title.

The Edison and Fountain Valley girls' water polo teams got a jump start on the rest of the local teams in the CIF Southern Section playoffs, which began this week, by playing Division 1 wild-card games Tuesday. And both the Chargers and Barons won to extend their seasons. Edison hosted Northwood at the Ocean View High pool and pulled away in the second half to score a 15-6 victory over the Timberwolves. Fountain Valley, meanwhile, was a 9-4 winner over host Esperanza at Valencia (Placentia)

Having played most of the month without one of its key players, the Edison girls' water polo team was at full-strength Wednesday for its Sunset League game against Huntington Beach. With Abby Oshiro back in the lineup, the Chargers, ranked eighth in CIF Division 1, used a pressing defense to jump on the Oilers and eventually scored a 16-5 victory at the Newport Harbor High pool. Edison bolted to an 8-0 first-quarter lead to improve to 2-1 in league and 10-8 overall. Oshiro, who had been out with a dislocated knee cap and saw limited playing time in each period to "ease her back into the game," Edison Coach Diggy Riley said, scored the first time she touched the ball and ended up with two goals.

An early season girls' water polo showdown between Edison and host Laguna Beach on Tuesday didn't disappoint. In a match that pitted two CIF Division 1 ranked teams, a last-second shot on a designed play by the eighth-ranked Chargers hit the post and sixth-ranked Laguna was able to hold on for an 11-10 nonleague victory. "We came into the game knowing we can compete with them," Edison Coach Diggy Riley said. "It was a game of runs. " Laguna took a 3-2 lead after one quarter and the Breakers still were in front, 8-7, through three quarters.