The562’s coverage of Long Beach Poly is sponsored by Bryson Financial.
The Long Beach Poly girls’ basketball comes into the 2024-25 season with a full trophy case, but plenty of question marks. The Jackrabbits have won six CIF-SS and six CIF State championships under legendary Century Club Hall of Fame coach Carl Buggs, and carry a 199-game Moore League win streak into the season. That streak dates back to a loss to Millikan in 2008–since then Poly has been a perfect 199-0, and is now 20 games shy of the state record for longest league win streak in history.
This year will post a true test for the Jackrabbits, however. Graduations and a host of transfers have Poly with just three returning varsity players, two of whom were second-team All-Moore League selections last season.
“I’m not worried about anything that’s happened the last 12 months I’m just looking at what’s happening right now,” said Buggs. “We’ve got our core of Helena Vu, Joy Anderson, and Nevaeh Lemons, and then 11 first-year varsity players. We’ll go through some growing pains, but this is a great group. The kids are working hard and they’re fun to coach. I’m excited to go to practice every day. I know we have our work cut out for us but these kids work hard–everybody has a great attitude and everything is team first. It’s good to see that.”
Vu, Anderson and Lemons will need to shoulder a big load, both in terms of production on the court and leadership off of it. Vu says they’re ready to take that responsibility on.
“We have a lot of new faces but we have three returners and we know what we’re doing,” she said. “We’ve been working hard every day and I’m just super excited for this season.”
“Their roles are going to have to change,” said Buggs. “They’ve been complementary players and they’re going to have to be more aggressive offensively and carry the load until the others develop. They’re doing a great job coaching the kids on the side, all three of them are like coaches on the court. The kids are responding well to it.”
In addition to Poly’s returning three, the Jackrabbits will look to junior varsity MVP Ana Villamar, a junior, sophomore post Simdi Akpamgbo, and sophomore I’Kaika Afamata to lead the way.
Buggs also got a bonus player walking in the gym who could be one of the biggest wild cards in the Moore League in recent memory: senior Aaya McLyn, the Moore League flag football MVP and a Division 1 NCAA signee in soccer with Washington State. McLyn is planning on playing both soccer and basketball this Winter in what seems to be her quest to participate in every sport at Poly before she graduates.
“She wants to do everything,” said Buggs with a laugh. “I don’t know how much we will have her, but she’s having a ball out there. She’s gung ho. The kids are having fun with her and they love her, her personality is infectious.”
Senior Angelina Torres will be another post player for Poly, while freshman Sohl Vadecha could be in the mix this year early as well.
Interestingly, the vibes at Poly seem sky-high despite the multiple transfer departures. Vu said there’s an air of gratitude among the players on this year’s team.
“My brother went to Poly so I’ve been going to games there since I was a kid, and it’s honestly such a blessing to have been coached by coach Buggs all four years,” she said. “It’s been a dream since I was a little girl. These last four years have been the best at Poly, the environment is beautiful, everyone is so supportive. I was so excited to come here and it’s been everything I wanted.”
As much as everyone is enjoying the improved atmosphere, Buggs and his squad know there are some real battles ahead of them. Lakewood has been nipping at their heels and return three first-team All-Moore League players (including a Wilson transfer); Jordan has been much improved in recent years as well.
“We’re not talking about league right now, we’re just trying to get better for tomorrow,” said Buggs. “Just little strides every day, set little goals and get better at one thing every day. We will have to learn how to play this year day by day.”
For Vu and the other two Poly captains, the mission is clear: keep winning, and go get a CIF-SS championship ring.
“Every senior that’s gone to Poly all four years has left with a ring, and my class haven’t won a ring yet,” she said. “We have to win that ring for our team and for coach Buggs.”
