San Marcos, Dos Pueblos and Santa Barbara High competed in the first day of the Channel League Boys Water Polo Championship Tournament on Wednesday at the Santa Barbara High pool.
The Royals advanced to the Channel League title game on Thursday with a pair of wins, including one over the Chargers in the semifinal matchup.
Here is a breakdown of Wednesday’s games for the Royals, Chargers and Dons.
Dos Pueblos 10, Santa Barbara 6
The day opened with a crosstown rivalry matchup in which the Chargers bested the Dons, 10-6.
The second quarter was the difference maker, as Dos Pueblos outscored Santa Barbara 5-1 to head into halftime with a 7-2 lead.
Dos Pueblos’ Jaden Moore carried his success from the regular season into this tournament, scoring three goals in the opening matchup. Andrew Kline matched Moore with a trio of goals as well.
Aden Bishop was the other multi-goal scorer for the Chargers with two goals. He also collected five assists.
For the Dons, Lorenzo Russell and Jack Drown each scored a pair of goals while both West Graham and Calvin Nelley found the back of the cage. Will Stearns-Corbin turned in an all-around performance with two assists and two exclusions drawn.
San Marcos 20, Oxnard 8
The Royals dominated the Yellow Jackets offensively, hanging 20 goals on their opponents en route to the win.
The 20-goal performance was the highest offensive output of any team on the first day of the tournament, and it sent San Marcos into the semifinals.
Santa Barbara 15, Oxnard 7
The Dons bounced back from the loss to the Chargers with a 15-7 win over Oxnard.
In the win, Drown scored a team-high three goals while Nelley, Russell, Graham and Shane Davis followed up with two goals apiece.
Stearns-Corbin, Sam Walker and Paolo Borgioli rounded out the scoring for the Dons.
SEMIFINALS: San Marcos 12, Dos Pueblos 6
Opening wins for both the Royals and Chargers set up a crosstown semifinal showdown to wrap up the action on day one.
San Marcos came out on top, doubling up the Dos Pueblos score en route to a 12-6 win.
After the game was tied at 2-2 at the end of the first quarter, the Royals pulled away in the second by outscoring the Chargers 4-1.
San Marcos didn’t look back from there, cruising to the big win.
Luke Burns led the offensive attack for the Royals with five goals while both William Stuart and Nic Prentice ended with a trio of goals.
For Dos Pueblos, Moore once again led the way with three goals.
San Marcos will face off against Ventura for the Channel League Championship on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. at Santa Barbara High.
