GHS boys water polo falls in first round, 11-4
GILROY –The Mustang boys water polo team thought re-inforcements were coming prior to Wednesday’s first-round playoff game against No. 4 seed Salinas in the Gilroy High pool. Two players – senior Eric Watkins and Nick Van Winkle – were expected back after getting their grades up to par.
Instead, Watkins and Van Winkle were not allowed to play until their grades were made official on Monday – too late with the playoffs concluding on Saturday. Along with leading-scorer Lee Walton on the bench with cracked ribs for the past two weeks, the Mustangs were also without starter Daniel Dickson – who was sidelined following a dirtbike accident.
Although the No. 5 seed Mustangs – made up of reserve and junior varsity players – played their hearts out, they were no match for the senior-laden Cowboys, dropping an 11-4 decision.
“We played awesome. We had sophomores and freshmen playing against seniors,” said head coach Tom Clark, satisfied with his squad’s effort. “Not our best game of the year, but it’s right up there.”
Up next, the Mustangs will face the winner of the Carmel-Monterey game Friday in the Live Oak High pool.
Gilroy’s inexperience showed early as Salinas built a 3-0 advantage after one quarter, a 6-0 lead at the half and a 9-1 lead by the end of the third quarter. The lone Mustang goal up to that point came from sophomore Santiago Maciel to start the third.
“We really missed (Walton) the past couple of weeks,” said Clark of his leading scorer. “He moves everwhere. He’s like a skeeter-bug in the water.”
The Cowboys controlled the water – extending to an 11-1 lead with 4:26 remaining. But then captain Travis Gamble sparked a late Gilroy thrust with a pair of goals in the final 2:58 as well as an assist on teammate Chris Hunt’s strike with 16 ticks left.
“Our guys aren’t as big and they’re still starting to learn to move to get open,” Clark said. “In the first quarter, we had no shots on net. In the second, third and fourth quarters, they started picking it up and getting shots. They’ve got to get open to score.”
Gilroy received strong outings from sophomore Ryan Bowe and freshman Scott Custruitu – who Clark said, “played the best game I’ve seen him play.”
