The562’s coverage of Long Beach Poly is sponsored by Bryson Financial.
The562’s coverage of Cabrillo Athletics is sponsored by the Cohn Family.
Long Beach Poly’s dominant run through the first half of the Moore League continued at home in the Ron Palmer Pavilion on Wednesday night. The Jackrabbits fully controlled their game against Cabrillo, winning 86-32 to improve to 5-0, with just a game against last-place Compton until they’ve wrapped up the first round.
Poly has outscored Moore League opponents 383-214, an average of 76.6-42.8.
“It’s been three, four years building this team,” said Poly coach Shelton Diggs. “I love how they’re playing so well together. Guys are making their shots, defending the way we want to defend. They’re playing the right way.”
Poly was led by 15 points from Nana Ofoegbu, 14 from his brother Giovanni Ofoegbu, 13 points from Jovani Ruff, and 12 from Jonas Oware. Austin Unegbu only had four points, but nearly brought the house down with a thunderous fast-break dunk over a Cabrillo defender. It was one of several highlight-caliber dunks by Poly, and Diggs loudly cheered each one.
“Yeah I’m having a lot of fun, man,” he said with a laugh. “They’re a fun team to coach.”
Cabrillo was led by Lincoln Dean’s 18 points, as the senior was one of the lone bright spots for the Jags.
“We just didn’t compete,” said Cabrillo coach Chris Spencer. “This gym has a certain aura that if you don’t bring it, they’ll run you out of the gym. They’re doing an excellent job coaching those guys, they’re playing hard. They’re trying to get it back to those old days where they want to show that people don’t belong in the gym with them. You have to play a whole game.”
Spencer said he was happy with how Dean played, continuing to push the ball and take good shots even as the game got out of hand.
“He has a certain level of leadership and resiliency, he’s going to go get extra work after the game,” said Spencer. “He’s going to be successful far beyond Cabrillo, because of how he works–that’s how he is.”
Poly (15-6, 5-0) hosts Millikan on Friday while Cabrillo (10-8, 1-4) hosts Wilson on Friday.
