Helix, Granite Hills claim league titles

By Ramon Scott
Updated: November 1, 2026

2026 EAST COUNTY PREP BOYS WATER POLO

EastCountySports.com staff report

LA MESA — The regular season ended with two East County league champions, four teams among the county’s computer-rated top 25 and an immediate playoff rematch between the area’s two highest-rated programs.

Helix captured the Grossmont Hills League championship, Granite Hills completed a 6-0 run through the Grossmont Valley League, and Helix and Santana were selected for the San Diego Section Open Division.

The Scotties and Sultans will meet Wednesday at 5:15 p.m. at La Jolla High’s Coggan Aquatic Complex in an all-East County Open Division quarterfinal.

It will be the teams’ fourth meeting of the season.

Helix won their first tournament meeting, 10-9, on Sept. 12. Santana answered with a 9-6 league victory on Oct. 8 before Helix won the Oct. 28 rematch, 8-5, to take control of the Hills race.

The Scotties closed the regular season with an 18-11 victory over Valhalla, the win over Santana and an 18-5 victory over Steele Canyon.

Helix finished 21-5 overall, climbed to fourth in the final regular-season county computer rankings and enters the playoffs on a nine-game winning streak. The Scotties’ last loss came against Santana.

Santana responded to the Helix defeat by beating Valhalla, 16-10, in its regular-season finale. The Sultans enter the Open Division 20-8 overall and rated sixth in the county.

Santana and Helix split their two league meetings, but Helix’s closing victory and championship finish supplied the Scotties with the Hills League title.

The winner of Wednesday’s matchup will advance to the Open Division semifinals on Tuesday, Nov. 10.

Eagles sweep Grossmont Valley League

The Granite Hills Eagles defeated West Hills, 18-10, on Oct. 27 and completed a season sweep of El Capitan with a 16-9 victory on Oct. 29.

Granite Hills finished 6-0 in league play and 18-6 overall, winning its final six games of the regular season.

The Eagles defeated El Capitan twice, 13-10 and 16-9, while sweeping their league series against Mount Miguel, Monte Vista and West Hills.

Granite’s championship run moved the Eagles to No. 22 in the final county computer rankings. The Eagles allowed nine goals or fewer in five of their six league games.

El Capitan finished second in the Valley despite the two losses to Granite Hills.

The Vaqueros closed the regular season 22-7 overall and 4-2 in league play, giving them the highest victory total among Grossmont Conference teams. El Capitan won 10 of its final 12 reported games, with both losses coming against Granite Hills.

West Hills defeated Mount Miguel, 19-7, in its regular-season finale. Monte Vista earned its second victory of the season by defeating Mount Miguel, 12-8.

Grossmont finishes with wins

Grossmont assembled its best closing stretch of the season.

The Foothillers defeated Steele Canyon, 15-11, on Oct. 28 and edged Patrick Henry, 13-12, two days later.

Those victories moved Grossmont to 8-19 overall and No. 25 in the final county computer rankings. The Foothillers won four of their final six games after enduring one of the area’s most difficult schedules.

Steele Canyon completed the regular season 10-17. The Cougars’ late-season résumé included tournament victories over University City, Hilltop, Mater Dei Catholic and Mercer Island, along with a one-goal loss to Mission Bay.

Valhalla finished 15-15 after closing against Helix and Santana. The Norsemen remained among the county’s stronger Division I programs and were rated 18th overall entering the postseason.

Patriots draw La Costa Canyon

Patrick Henry earned the No. 7 seed in Division I and will host La Costa Canyon in Tuesday’s opening round.

The Patriots finished 11-13 after three consecutive one-goal losses. Point Loma defeated Patrick Henry, 12-11, Grossmont won 13-12, and Eastlake edged the Patriots, 10-9.

Despite the difficult finish, Patrick Henry defeated Granite Hills, 9-8, earlier in October and finished No. 21 in the county computer rankings.

Valhalla also received a home playoff assignment against San Dieguito Academy.

Poway joins Open field

Poway became the third team in EastCountySports.com’s expanded coverage area selected for the Open Division.

The Titans finished 14-12 and rated 10th in the county after dropping a 22-21 decision to fifth-rated Canyon Crest Academy in their regular-season finale.

Poway will meet top-rated Cathedral Catholic on Wednesday at 4 p.m. Cathedral finished the regular season 22-1.

Ramona enters the postseason 16-7 and rated first among the section’s Division III teams. The Bulldogs won four of their final five reported games and carry legitimate championship expectations into the bracket.

Canyon Hills closed its regular season with a 14-8 victory over Mira Mesa.

The postseason begins with Patrick Henry and Valhalla playing Tuesday, followed by the Open Division quarterfinals Wednesday. Steele Canyon will host Mt. Carmel in another confirmed first-round matchup Thursday at 6 p.m.

For East County, the postseason’s defining opening game will come Wednesday evening when Helix and Santana meet again—this time with elimination attached to the result.

Final regular-season results

Saturday, Oct. 31

Eastlake 10, Patrick Henry 9

Friday, Oct. 30

Santana 16, Valhalla 10
Helix 18, Steele Canyon 5
Grossmont 13, Patrick Henry 12

Thursday, Oct. 29

Granite Hills 16, El Capitan 9
West Hills 19, Mount Miguel 7

Wednesday, Oct. 28

Helix 8, Santana 5
Grossmont 15, Steele Canyon 11
Canyon Crest Academy 22, Poway 21
Point Loma 12, Patrick Henry 11
Canyon Hills 14, Mira Mesa 8

Tuesday, Oct. 27

Granite Hills 18, West Hills 10
Monte Vista 12, Mount Miguel 8
El Capitan 11, Rancho Buena Vista 6

Monday, Oct. 26

Helix 18, Valhalla 11

Playoffs

Tuesday, Nov. 3

La Costa Canyon at Patrick Henry, 4:30 p.m. — Division I
San Dieguito Academy at Valhalla — divisional first round

Wednesday, Nov. 4

Poway vs. Cathedral Catholic, 4 p.m. — Open Division quarterfinal
Santana vs. Helix, 5:15 p.m. — Open Division quarterfinal

Open Division games at Coggan Aquatic Complex.

Thursday, Nov. 5

Mt. Carmel at Steele Canyon, 6 p.m. — divisional first round

EastCountySports.com

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