One final tournament remains for Back Bay rivals

The CIF Southern Section Masters Tournament, which begins today at four sites, is designed to determine the best girls’ water polo team in the Southern Section regardless of division.

The underlying question for this year’s tournament, however, seems to be ‘Will Newport Harbor and Corona del Mar meet in the final of yet another tournament?’

Newport Harbor and CdM have met in the final of the last four tournaments they’ve played, including the CIF Southern Section Division I title game Saturday, when the Sailors outlasted the Sea Kings, 6-5, in overtime at Irvine High. They are also the top-two seeded teams for the Masters Tournament, in its second year.

Newport Harbor (28-3) opens the 16-team tournament today at Newport Harbor High against Sonora. A win, and the Sailors will play either No. 8 Laguna Beach or No. 9 Riverside Poly in the second round tonight at 7:30 at Newport.

CdM (24-7) opens against Arroyo Grande today at 4 p.m. at Santa Margarita High. If victorious, CdM would face either No. 7 Santa Barbara or No. 10 Santa Margarita tonight at 7:30, also at Santa Margarita.

The Sea Kings will be without Coach Aaron Chaney, who left Thursday for Romania to work as a referee for an Olympic qualifying tournament. CdM boys’ coach Barry O’Dea will be filling in, Chaney said.

Other top-seeded teams include Division II champ Dos Pueblos (No. 3 seed) and defending Masters champion Foothill (No. 4).

The semifinals of the tournament are set for 1 and 2:15 p.m. Saturday at El Toro High, with the championship game Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at El Toro.

— Matt Szabo