Conwell Leads Newport Harbor to Water Polo Semifinals

Gary Conwell scored five goals in the first half to help lead Newport Harbor’s water polo team to a 13-7 quarterfinal victory over Clovis West in the Southern California Invitational at Heritage Aquatic Complex in Irvine Friday.

The Sailors (9-2), ranked No. 1 in the county, play San Clemente at 2:50 today in a semifinal game at Heritage.

San Clemente defeated Bellarmine, 9-2, in the first round, and North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake, 10-8, in overtime of the quarterfinals.

Jeff Leeper scored four goals to lead Newport Harbor. The Sailors edged Orinda Miramonte, 9-8, in a first-round game. Newport Harbor’s Brenden Hansen scored two goals in that game.

In another quarterfinal game:

Long Beach Wilson 19, No. 4 Servite 11--The top team in Southern Section Division I had little trouble with Servite as the Bruins were ahead, 12-4, at the half. Dane Jensen and Jarrod Cruzat each scored four goals for Servite (9-2). In a first-round game, Servite defeated Carmichael Jesuit, 14-8. Kim and Cruzat scored four goals to lead Servite (10-2).

In consolation games:

No. 2 Foothill 9, Corona del Mar 5--Foothill came out with a vengeance after losing a first-round heart-breaker to Davis, 10-9. The Knights led the Sea Kings 6-1 at the half. Eitan Goldstein had three goals and Pat Logan two. Garrett Gentry had two goals for the Sea Kings, who lost to Coronado in the first round.

In Golden West League girls’ volleyball:

Westminster 3, Saddleback 2--Jen Reinig had 15 kills and 10 aces to lead Westminster to a 15-1, 15-7, 3-15, 14-16, 16-14 victory. Elisa Hernandez had 11 kills for Saddleback (1-6, 0-2).