Boys water polo: Wilson whips Sea Kings, 10-4

Barry Faulkner

CORONA DEL MAR - What Corona del Mar High boys water polo coach

John Vargas hoped would be a tuneup for next week’s CIF Southern Section

Division II playoffs, instead turned into a wake-up call Friday at the

Sea Kings’ pool.

Visiting Long Beach Wilson (19-5 and ranked No. 3 in CIF Division I)

scored six straight goals after CdM opened the scoring, en route to a

decisive 10-4 nonleague triumph.

It was the third meeting this season between the two powers, who had

split the previous two, both three-goal margins in tournament play.

The Bruins netted eight of their goals on the counterattack, but

Vargas said it wasn’t so much Wilson’s transition offense, as his squad’s

poor shot selection.

“We took ill-advised shots, which set things up for them,” Vargas

said. “We were rushing against their pressure.”

Rather than forget the lopsided loss, Vargas said his Pacific Coast

League champions (18-5 and ranked No. 1 in CIF Division II) should take

it with them as they prepare to defend their CIF Division II

championship.

“I think we need to think about this one,” said Vargas, whose squad

has now lost three of its last four, albeit against extremely strong

competition (Villa Park and Coronado en route to a fourth-place finish in

the Tru West 2000 Memorial Cup, completed Saturday in San Jose). “There

are a lot of mistakes we need to correct from this one. We need to play

team water polo, instead of play as individuals.”

Senior Garrett Bowlus found the net from about eight meters 23 seconds

into the game to give CdM its only lead.

A Bruin onslaught followed.

Keyed by senior standout James Shin, whom Vargas estimated is

averaging six goals per game, the visitors answered at will to seize a

6-1 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Bowlus, first-team All-CIF as a junior, scored again on an assist from

junior Bobby Messenger to get the Sea Kings off to a good start in the

second period. But, despite a Messenger goal (on a Bowlus assist) and a

spectacular save of a lob shot by senior goalie Sherwin Kim, all the

hosts could manage was a 2-2 stalemate in the quarter.

Kim made six first-half saves, before giving way to Beau Stockstill,

who made one save the final two periods.

Michael March rounded out the CdM scoring, powering in an inside shot,

after Wilson goalie Zack Walter (18 saves) had been ejected. Even without

Walter in the cage, sagging Bruin defenders managed to block the first

two shots of the possession.

Walter’s save total included many routine stops, as well as several

which deflected off him, then ricocheted off the goal posts and/or cross

bar, away from the net.

Vargas said one positive was an extra chance to evaluate freshman

Griffin Gentry and sophomore John Mann against varsity competition.

Vargas said they may be asked to contribute in the playoffs, for which

pairings will be announced Monday.

Shin finished with four goals for the winners, who, led by Olympian

Tony Azevedo, won the last four CIF Division I titles.

NONLEAGUE

Long Beach Wilson 10, Corona del Mar 4

Long Beach Wilson 6 2 1 1 - 10

Corona del Mar 1 2 1 0 - 4

Long Beach Wilson - Shin 4, Gerardi 3, Hale 2, Foster 1. Saves -

Walter 18.

Corona del Mar - Bowlus 2, Messenger 1, March 1. Saves - Kim 6,

Stockstill 1.