Santa Barbara High split two games on the first day of the South Coast boys water polo tournament on Thursday in Orange County.
The Dons opened with a 14-8 win over Edison and then dropped a 12-7 decision to Corona del Mar.
Nate Hunter and Preston Schlagel each scored three goals and Colin Fristoe added two in the win over Edison.
The loss of Corona del Mar was a tale of two halves, according to coach Mark Walsh. The Dons were leading 5-2 early in the third quarter and then got outscored 10-2.
“We played one of our best halves of water polo and then we played one of our worst halves,” he said.
Walsh, however, was encouraged overall.
“We’re on the right track,” he said.
Evan Robertson, Peter Loomis and Mason Pereira each scored two goals for the Dons against Corona del Mar.
The Dons play Laguna Beach on Friday.
