Mater Dei, El Toro among contenders at North-South Challenge

Mater Dei's second-ranked boys water polo team and No. 4 El Toro are Orange County's highest seeds for the North-South Challenge, which runs Friday and Saturday in Atherton.

The tournament features top teams from Southern and Northern California.

Mater Dei (13-3), the top seed from Southern California, opens against De La Salle of Concord on Friday morning at Sacred Heart Prep at 9:30.

El Toro (16-3), last year's runner-up to Miramonte, opens against Davis at Menlo-Atherton at 3:10 p.m.

No. 6 Los Alamitos and No. 7 Villa Park also part of the field. The Griffins (12-8) takes on Sacred Heart Prep in the first round while the Spartans (14-6) meet Miramonte of Orinda.

Last week, Miramonte loss to league rival Acalanes, 10-6. If El Toro wins its opener, it plays the winner of Acalanes-Ventura in the quarterfinals.

The championship is Saturday at Sacred Heart Prep at 5:10 p.m.