Boys Water Polo: Damien the area's lone team in semifinals

The first round is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, with the finals set for Nov. 21. All first- round games are scheduled for 3:15 p.m.

Damien (23-6), which won its ninth consecutive Sierra League title, opens the Division 3 bracket at home Wednesday against Bell Gardens (6-8), with a possible meeting against top seed Murrieta Valley (24-2) in the semifinals. The Spartans, who would face either Citrus Belt champion Redlands (17-8) or Vista Murrieta (15-14) in the quarterfinals, lost to Murrieta Valley in the semifinals last season.

"It went as we expected," said Damien coach Andrew Gates of the draw. "We're OK with it. We thought we might get Bell Gardens or Yucaipa."

Glendora (9-8) is the other area team in the bracket, receiving an at-large bid after finishing fourth in the Sierra League. The Tartans will be at Yucaipa (14-13) in a wild- card game Tuesday, the winner traveling to Murrieta Valley on Wednesday.

Walnut (22-6), which went undefeated in the San Antonio League, received a bye in the first round of the Division 6 bracket and will host Cabrillo of Lompoc in the second round on Thursday at Mt. SAC. Walnut could also meet top seed Webb of Claremont in the semifinals.

Nogales (23-6) and Rowland (11-16), who finished second and third, respectively, in the San Antonio League, are also in the bracket.

The Nobles will play host to Pasadena (9-10), the No. 4 team from the Pacific League, in Tuesday's first round. The Raiders also get a Pacific League entry, traveling to Hoover (17-13).

Bonita (11-9), ranked in the Division 5 top 10 all season, received a bye in the first round and will face either Arlington or La Quinta in the second round Wednesday.

Charter Oak, which finished second to the Bearcats in the Miramonte League, also gets a first- round bye and will be at Sunny Hills in the second round Wednesday.

steve.ramirez@sgvn.com