The562’s coverage of Aquatic sports in Long Beach is sponsored by the Aquatic Capital of America Foundation.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach Wilson Athletics is sponsored by Joel Bitonio, Class of 2009.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach Poly is sponsored by Bryson Financial.
Like a veteran heavyweight boxer putting his belt on the line, Wilson boys’ water polo took the No. 1 contenders’ best shot on Tuesday at the Belmont Outdoor Pool and then countered with a knockout blow.
Long Beach Poly looked lively while taking a two-goal lead in the second quarter, but Wilson responded with six unanswered goals on its way to an 11-6 win that clinched a 17th consecutive Moore League championship for the Bruins.
Emotions were running high for all of the players as Wilson also celebrated Senior Day before the opening sprint.
“It’s honestly a lot of fun,” Wilson senior Enzo Brigagliano said of the last regular season home game. “I’ve been playing water polo with (Poly senior Emerson LaPorta) since we were like 5. It really adds another level of fun just playing against some of your best friends and with your best friends at the same time. It’s quite the experience.”
Wilson led 5-4 at halftime until Vaughn Baker took over the third quarter for the Bruins. He scored three of his four goals in the first few minutes after the break, and also finished with a game-high three assists.
“Poly came out strong but we came together as a team and coach really pumped us up and we came back really strong,” Baker said.
“The first half went how we thought it would,” Wilson coach Zac Polmanteer said. “That Poly team is very strong. We knew that we would have to hang with them in the first half just to keep it close and tight. But we knew that eventually in the third and fourth quarter the hope was to break loose by staying to the plan. The guys listened and then played for each other.”
Poly got two goals each from Emerson LaPorta and Billy Cruz while Kyle Oatey netted a hat trick. It was their shots from distance early that gave the Jackrabbits a lead. LaPorta actually scored at the first quarter buzzer to put Poly up 3-2.
Tony Song found Cruz in front of the cage early in the second quarter to give Poly the 4-2 lead, but that’s when Wilson went on its game-winning run. Baker fed Samson Casem for a score before Baker finished Elijah Vince’s nice assist to tie the game. Vince and Gavin Simon both scored twice.
It was Baker getting into the counter attack that turned the tide in the second half.
“A lot of the talk at halftime was about them running sort of a five-man zone,” Polmanteer said. “They were off the perimeter so they were basically guarding (Brigagliano) with six guys. We needed to fill free water, slide in on defenders and encroach on their area and make them decide who they want to guard. I think (Baker) capitalized on that well, and kudos to everyone else for getting him the ball. They found the right man at the right time.”
Wilson goalkeeper Andrew Demboski, sophomore Christian Marov-Perez combined to make seven saves. Poly goalkeeper Sean Kerry made 11 saves.
After the game, Poly coach Ish Pluton lauded his team’s effort despite the loss.
“We’re upset we lost to Wilson, we want to beat them desperately, but we’re looking at it like we’re starting to play really well and cohesively,” Pluton said. “That first half showed us that we’re a team that can potentially go on a run in the playoffs.”
These teams both have one game left on the regular season schedule and they’re both on Wednesday. Wilson travels to face Mira Costa while Poly visits Millikan for the league finale. The Bruins are sitting right on the cusp of the CIF Southern Section Open Division and Division 1 cutoff.
“We are in a precarious and honorable situation,” Polmanteer said. “That’s what we want. With the history of our program, with our expectations, we want to be with the dogs (in the Open Division).”
Poly can finish second in the league standings by beating Millikan, and is on the cusp of Division 1 and 2. The game at Millikan is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.
