The562’s coverage of aquatic sports in Long Beach is sponsored by the Aquatic Capital of America Foundation.
Four Long Beach water polo teams made the CIF Southern Section playoffs, and learned their postseason paths with the release of the CIF-SS brackets on Saturday morning.
Division 1
Moore League champion WIlson (17-11) gets a home game in Division 1, as they’ll host Aliso Niguel on Wednesday at the Belmont at 5 p.m.
“We’re sitting right about where I thought we would,” said Wilson water polo coach Zach Polmanteer. “I thought we had a chance at a first round bye with our win against Mira Costa on Thursday night, but at least with our league win we get to host the first round.”
Indeed, the vagaries of an odd-sized 13-team bracket meant hat three teams received a first-round bye–Foothill, Alta Loma, and Mira Costa, who the Bruins just defeated.
If Wilson can get past Aliso Niguel on Wednesday, they’d travel to Foothill on Saturday for the quarterfinals.
Division 2
Long Beach Poly (17-11) has played a tough schedule, and earned a home game against another talented second-place league finisher as they’ll host Arcadia on Tuesday at 5 p.m.
“We’re pretty pumped,” said Poly coach Ish Pluton when asked about his team’s attitude as the playoffs start. “It’s not a bad draw–Arcadia played in our tournament so we’ve seen them before. After our Wilson game, the boys feel really confident in their gameplay. That game was like a playoff atmosphere. They’re fired up and ready to make a dent in the postseason.”
If Poly gets past Arcadia on Tuesday they’d play against on Thursday against the winner of Beckman and Claremont; a potential quarterfinal would loom on Saturday if they win two.
Division 4
The Moore League’s third-place team, Millikan (10-16), will hit the road on Tuesday and travel to face South Torrance. If the Rams win they’d face the winner of Temecula Valley and Temescal Canyon on Thursday.
Division 5
Cabrillo (16-7) played a great nonleague schedule and despite finishing fourth in the Moore League, earned an at-large bid into the Division 5 bracket. The Jaguars will travel to Milken Community on Tuesday and would face the winner of Warren and Chino on Thursday if they advance.
