LOS ALAMITOS – Newport Harbor’s girls water polo team tumbled further in Division 1 than it expected. A vast bracket surfaced in Division 2. And two “hidden seeds” from Orange County lurk in Division 6.
Yes, the release of the CIF-SS girls water polo playoff pairings again delivered intrigue Sunday.
Newport Harbor (20-7) claimed a seventh seed following a 6-5 loss to Los Alamitos in the Sunset League championship game.
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Sailors coach Bill Barnett believes his squad should have been seeded sixth in Division 1 but that slot went to Channel League No. 2 entry Santa Barbara.
Newport Harbor beat Santa Barbara, 10-9, last month but the Dons’ candidacy surged with a 7-6 victory against Los Alamitos on Feb. 8.
Newport Harbor now appears headed toward a quarterfinal date with No. 2 Foothill. There was speculation the Sailors would face No. 3 Corona del Mar in the quarters but the Sea Kings could now encounter Santa Barbara.
Kristine Palle, section assistant commissioner, said the final Division 1 coaches’ poll was the key reason Newport Harbor slipped behind Santa Barbara. The poll had Santa Barbara fifth, one spot behind Channel No. 1 San Marcos and ahead of Los Alamitos and Newport Harbor.
But because of section rules, Santa Barbara and San Marcos can’t be on the same side of the bracket as the No. 4 and No. 5.
“If they (Santa Barbara) can’t be the five-(seed), they’re going to go to the next spot,” Palle said. “They’re going to go to the six.”
Barnett said his team has itself to “blame” for the tough draw but added that it remains “capable” of making a strong playoff run. The veteran also said Sunday that next season will be his last with the Sailors, whom he has guided to five CIF titles.
As expected, Laguna Beach (26-1) earned Division 1’s top seed.
In Division 2, 26 qualifying teams required the section to construct a 32-team bracket with five rounds. Defending champion Santa Margarita (20-6) nabbed the No. 1 seed while Mater Dei (22-6), last season’s Division 2 runner-up, secured the No. 2.
In Division 6, Pacifica (15-13) and Cypress (19-9) – ranked third and sixth in the final poll – fell to the wild-card round in a large bracket but each could advance from the No. 3 and No. 5-seeded spots as “hidden seeds.”
Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com
