Clements said the play was designed by assistant Chantz Gladden, who is also the boys coach at Chino Hills.

It was the lone goal of the match for Perez, who received a “tough-love speech” from Clements at halftime.

“Savannah had asked for a sub because she wasn’t feeling it,” Clements said. “And I told her, ‘You need to get it together because we need you.’ And then I left her alone, and she got back in there and got it done.”

Added Perez: “As much as I hate to admit it, it’s something I need at times. I need to have that push to go.”

Centennial (22-4, 7-1) had an opportunity to send the match to overtime. Santiago dropped its defense to prevent any shots from close range, so Sirls swam up and let loose from about 7 meters out. Mira Gutierrez and Pence rose up and combined to field block the shot past the cage. Santiago ran out the final seconds.

“It’s been four long years since we’ve been in this spot, playing for a title in a league we used to dominate,” Clements said. “None of our girls ever had a chance to experience something like this. I’m proud of them.”

Santiago trailed by a goal late in the first half, but Riley Romero and Grace Nassar scored on back-to-back possessions to put the Sharks up 5-4. That looked like it would be the halftime score, but Catherine Jenkins pounced on the ball after a deflected shot and scored a goal as time expired to help Centennial draw level.

The score was tied at 7 after three quarters. Pence’s final goal of the match came with 4:33 remaining and gave Santiago an 8-7 advantage. Centennial’s Jayda Perez tied things up 2 minutes later on a penalty shot.

Nassar finished the match with three goals for the Sharks, while goalie Ellie Baker registered seven blocks.

Jenkins and Jayda Perez scored three goals apiece to lead Centennial, while Sirls finished with 11 blocks.

Santiago’s victory was the final piece of a rare occurrence for a water polo carousel tournament, as all three of Tuesday’s winners avenged losses from earlier in the season. Roosevelt beat King in overtime to secure the league’s third and final automatic playoff berth, while Norco cruised past Corona in the fifth-place match.

The CIF Southern Section playoff pairings will be released Friday at 2 p.m.