THE TIMES’ RANKINGS

A final look at the Southland’s top boys’ water polo teams:

1. Long Beach Wilson (SS-Div. I, 31-0)

The Bruins won the Southern Section Division I championship on the strength of six returning starters.

2. Servite (SS-Div. II, 29-2)

The Friars won the Division II championship, 15-8, over Los Alamitos. Their losses were to Long Beach Wilson in the South Coast tournament final and to Santa Ana Foothill, which they played short-handed.

3. Corona del Mar (SS-Div. I, 21-8)

The Sea Kings, who won the Division II title in 2001, moved up to Division I this season and reached the final, where they lost to Long Beach Wilson.

4. Harvard-Westlake (SS-Div. I, 22-6)

The Wolverines didn’t return to the section final, losing to Corona del Mar, 3-2, in the semifinals, but did reach the final of the competitive S&R; Sport Cup in October, where they lost to Wilson, 10-7.

5. El Toro (SS-Div. I, 23-8)

The Chargers came close to beating Wilson, losing in the section semifinals, 13-11. El Toro scored impressive victories over Corona del Mar and Newport Harbor.

6. Newport Harbor (SS-Div. I, 19-10)

The Sailors were eliminated in the section quarterfinals by a one-goal loss to El Toro after winning its second consecutive Sea View League title.

7. Foothill (SS-Div. I, 16-12)

The Knights took their lumps with as tough a schedule as anyone, but they reached the semifinals of the S&R; Sport Cup, upsetting Servite.

8. Damien (SS-Div. V, 29-2)

The Spartans won their first section title with a 10-9 victory over two-time defending champion Riverside Poly.

9. Los Alamitos (SS-Div. II, 17-16)

The Griffins were picked to finish fourth in the Sunset League but advanced to the section finals with a team featuring mostly sophomores and juniors.

10. Riverside Poly (SS-Div. V, 27-5)

Poly won a Sierra League game against Damien in sudden death but couldn’t match that in the section final.