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Dan Albano. Sports HS Reporter.

// MORE INFORMATION: Staff Mug Shot taken August 26, 2010 : by KATE LUCAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER.

Huntington Beach’s boys water polo team protected its CIF ranking on Saturday.

Three days after defending its Sunset League title with a one-goal victory, the Oilers defeated Division 1 rival Orange Lutheran, 12-8, in a nonleague match at Huntington Beach.

James Vlachonassios and Jacob Cavano each scored four goals and Skyler Munatones added two to lead Huntington Beach (15-5), ranked fifth in Division 1, past No. 6 Orange Lutheran (12-6).

“This was definitely an important win,” said Huntington Beach coach Sasa Branisavljevic, whose team also defeated Newport Harbor, 12-11, Wednesday to improve to 2-0 in the Sunset League.

Cavano capped a decisive third period by scoring on an almost full-court shot at the buzzer. The Oilers outscored the Lancers, 4-1, in the frame to open a 10-5 lead.

Branisavljevic said center Quinten Osborne also played a key role for the Oilers by drawing extra defensive attention that opened Huntington Beach’s outside shooters.

Hannes Daube and Matt Kacura each scored twice for Orange Lutheran.

In other games:

No. 4 Dana Hills 10, Los Osos of Rancho Cucamonga 9: Junior Jack McLaughlin scored his fifth goal with 19 seconds left to lift the host Dolphins (15-3), ranked second in Division 2, past the No. 6 Grizzlies. McLaughlin scored on an assist by Bennett Williams on a timeout play. Riley Zachary added 12 saves, including one against a penalty, against Los Osos, which got five goals from Luke Andres before he fouled out late in the fourth.

No. 7 Newport Harbor 7, No. 8 El Toro 6: Cole Brosnan scored three goals and goalie Joe Ferraro made 12 saves to lead the host Sailors (10-10), who led, 7-3, at halftime.

No. 9 Laguna Beach 11, Los Alamitos 6: Jakob Colladay had five goals and six steals and Jeff Rubino added four goals to lead the host Breakers (10-9).

No. 1 Mater Dei 15, Agoura 9: Thomas Dunstan and Luke Wyatt scored three goals apiece to lead the host Monarchs past the Chargers, who got six goals from Max Hartmann.

Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com