Local teams earn high seeds
The Orange Belt will be well represented across the three divisions of the CIF Central Section boys and girls water polo playoffs with both teams from Porterville, Monache and Strathmore high schools, as well as the Granite Hills boys water polo team, receiving top 10 seeds and almost all home games to start.
Defending Division II champion Porterville (25-3, 8-0 EYL) moved up and are the thirdseeded team in Div. I. The defending East Yosemite League champion Panthers host the sixth-seeded Cougars of Clovis (10-12) at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4.
“We played them once already,” PHS head coach Mickey Goularte said. “We beat them 12-3. It was early in the year and I know that they were missing a player, so we know that they will be tougher than what we saw. But as far as most everything goes, we know what they have and I feel pretty confident that we can handle them.”
In tournaments throughout the season, Porterville has defeated Div. I’s fourthseeded Redwood (19-2), seventh-seeded Clovis East (12-12) and eighthseeded Golden West (19-10). But a win on Saturday will likely pit Porterville against the second-seeded Broncos of Clovis North (22-6).
“We just have to bring our A-game [against Clovis],” Goularte said. “And then the same goes with Clovis North. We had an opportunity to watch them play over in Arroyo Grande [tournament]. And I feel like we can beat them, but again we just have to bring our A-game when we play them.” TBA at No. 2 Monache, Saturday, 4:30 p.m.
After another season full of tough opponents and a 2-1 record against top-seeded Garces Memorial (26-3, 5-3 EYL), Monache earned themselves not only the second-seed but an opening-round bye and home games until possibly the Valley finals.
“I think we are in a great position head-
into playoffs,” said Monache coach Evan Thomas. “We would have loved to be the 1 seed obviously but we are still in a great position.”
The Marauders’ first game will be against the winner of Wednesday’s seventh-seeded Tulare Union (18-9, 2-6 EYL) and 10th-seeded Central (4-19). Monache went 2-0 against Tulare Union in East Yosemite League play.
If Monache wins Saturday, they will likely host
the sixth-seeded Miners of El Diamante (14-12) or the third-seeded Panthers of San Joaquin Memorial (20-7). The Marauders beat the Miners 9-5 in the first game of the season but have not faced the Panthers.
“The thing about playoffs is that every team is hungry for a win, and if you get the taste of one you crave it more,” Thomas said. “We have to be hungry for a win every time we go into a game this post season. If we do that the outcome should be a great on for us.” TBA at No. 4 Strathmore (15-10, 8-2 ESL), Saturday, 4:30 p.m.
Fourth-seeded Strathmore is back in the playoffs for the fourth straight year, this time earning an openinground bye as they await the winner of Wednesday’s fifth-seeded Mt. Whitney Pioneers (11-15) and 12th-seeded Bakersfield Christian Eagles (5-5 ESL) game.
This was the first season, in a number of years that the Spartans did not take the East Sequoia League title with an undefeated ESL record. Against Strathmore in the ESL, Bakersfield Christian was 0-2 losing 17-7 in the first meeting and 12-9 in the second. The Spartans have not faced the Pioneers this season.
Last season in the semifinals, a third-seeded Spartans (23-9, 10-0) team lost 7-5 to eventual Valley champions, second-seeded Hanford West (25-5).
No. 10 Granite Hills (7-13, 5-5 ESL) at No. 7 Tulare Western (10-16, 0-8 EYL), Wednesday, 4:30 p.m.
After a winless East Yosemite League season, the seventh-seeded Mustangs of Tulare Western host the 10th-seeded Grizzlies of Granite Hills out of the East Sequoia League.
Against common opponents both teams have losses to Mt. Whitney (11-15) and Sierra Pacific (17-6), but wins against Dinuba (3-20). The Mustangs
defeated Exeter (10-14) twice while the Grizzlies lost in overtime to the Monarchs. Granite Hills also lost 9-3 to Hanford West (522) while Tulare Western beat the Huskies 11-6. TBA at No. 2 Monache (22-7, 7-1 EYL), Saturday, 4:30 p.m.
Along with the topseeded Rangers of Redwood (26-2), secondseeded Monache is one of just two teams to receive an opening-round bye in the Div. II playoffs. On top of their high seed the Marauders will host games until possibly the Valley finals.
“The number two seed is what we expected,” MHS head coach Brandon Weaver said. “The bye was important for us. We needed a full week of focused practice.”
Monache’s first game is against the winner of the 10th-seeded Rams of Garces and the seventh-seeded Monarchs of Exeter game. The Marauders defeated the Rams twice in the East Yosemite League by nine or more points, but have not faced the Monarchs.
“Garces is a young team and should not be a huge factor this year,” Weaver said. “However, their coach is very good and I believe that they will be very tough in the next couple of years. We have not played Exeter in a few years. I will be taking a look at the game they will play Thursday against Garces to learn what I can.”
A tough league and competitive tournaments
throughout the season gives the Marauders an edge of experience and preparation as they make their way to the Valley championship.
“The preparation for playoffs is an ongoing task that starts early in the season,” Weaver said. “Tough tournaments, rivalry games, and demanding practices all aid in the preparation for playoffs.”
A win on Saturday for Monache could mean a possible semifinal rivalry game against third-seeded Porterville (20-7, 7-). The Marauders and Panthers shared the EYL title this season after beating each other at home. Monache also beat Porterville 4-3 at a tournament before league play.
No. 14 Sunnyside (1-14) at No. 3 Porterville (207), Wednesday, 4:30 p.m.
The odds are in thirdseeded Porterville’s favor when they host the Wildcats of Sunnyside in Wednesday’s openinground game. Against common opponents, Porterville is 7-2 while Sunnyside is 0-4 with all their losses coming in blowouts.
“We were expecting to be [the third] seed based on our record against the first and second seed during the regular season,” PHS head coach Lance Hyder said. “We had lost to Redwood and Monache earlier in the season.”
Hyder added that with an exception of a 13-7 loss to Clovis East (207),
the Panthers’ other six losses were close and could have gone either way. All six losses were by 1 point except for a 10-8 loss to top-seeded Redwood (26-2) in the first game of the season
“So those tight situations have made us stronger and helped us focus in on what we can improve on,” Hyder said. “If we can limit turnovers and continue improving our defensive pressure on other teams, that will help tremendously.”
The co-east Yosemite League champions are likely to face co-east Sequoia League champion, sixth-seeded Strathmore (19-6, 9-1 ESL) in the quarterfinals. The two have played twice this season with the Panthers winning 13-3 and 20-5.
No. 11 Fresno (6-7) at No. 6 Strathmore (19-6, 9-1 ESL), Wednesday, 4:30 p.m.
Strathmore makes their introduction to the Div. II playoffs with a sixth-seed and a home playoff game against 11th-seeded Warriors of Fresno.
The defending East Sequoia League champions played a tough preseason schedule to reach this point and still have their work cut out for them. A win against the Warriors puts the Spartans in a possible matchup against the third-seeded Panthers of Porterville. Strathmore is 0-2 against Porterville, losing 13-3 and 20-5 to the Panthers in the preseason and in a tournament.