WATER POLO: Nogales nearing league title with 15-7 victory over Wilson
By Steve Ramirez, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/19/2010 11:00:05 PM PDT
LA PUENTE - It's been more than two decades since Nogales High School last won a boys water polo league title.
The wait might be over.
Junior Nick Estevez had five goals and the Nobles took a big step toward their first league championship since the 1980s with a 15-7 victory over visiting Wilson to take over first place in the Valle Vista League on Tuesday.
Nogales, also getting four goals from Ramon Sanchez, improved to 21-2 overall and 6-0 in league play. The Nobles began the week ranked No. 2 in CIF-Southern Section Division 7.
Wilson, getting three goals from Matthew Hernandez, slipped to 13-10 and 6-1. The Wildcats are ranked No. 7 in Division 7.
"It's been 22 years since we won a league title at this school," said Nogales coach Alex Matal, whose team has won 11 in a row.
"It's a big step that we won this first game (with Wilson), so we know we at least have a share of the title, if not an outright win by beating them (on Oct. 30)."
Nogales put itself in position for the league title with a dominating fourth quarter in which the Nobles outscored the Wildcats 5-1 to turn a 10-6 edge into the 15-7 victory.
"It was a wake-up call in the third quarter," Estevez said.
"I think we relaxed. We had enough of a cushion to respond and return the favor."
Wilson, trailing 6-2 at halftime and 8-3 early in the third quarter, got consecutive goals from Hernandez and Brandon Cheng to
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make it 10-6 going the final seven minutes.
Nogales quickly put it away, though, going up 11-6 on a shot from Estevez from the right side with 6:13 left before a steal and tip-in by Castaneda made it 12-6 with 5:18 remaining.
"They executed the entire game," Wilson coach Bill Cavezza said. "They executed way better than we did. We got back into it, but the fourth quarter didn't go well for us."
Read more: http://www.sgvtribune.com/preps/ci_16383148
By Steve Ramirez, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/19/2010 11:00:05 PM PDT
LA PUENTE - It's been more than two decades since Nogales High School last won a boys water polo league title.
The wait might be over.
Junior Nick Estevez had five goals and the Nobles took a big step toward their first league championship since the 1980s with a 15-7 victory over visiting Wilson to take over first place in the Valle Vista League on Tuesday.
Nogales, also getting four goals from Ramon Sanchez, improved to 21-2 overall and 6-0 in league play. The Nobles began the week ranked No. 2 in CIF-Southern Section Division 7.
Wilson, getting three goals from Matthew Hernandez, slipped to 13-10 and 6-1. The Wildcats are ranked No. 7 in Division 7.
"It's been 22 years since we won a league title at this school," said Nogales coach Alex Matal, whose team has won 11 in a row.
"It's a big step that we won this first game (with Wilson), so we know we at least have a share of the title, if not an outright win by beating them (on Oct. 30)."
Nogales put itself in position for the league title with a dominating fourth quarter in which the Nobles outscored the Wildcats 5-1 to turn a 10-6 edge into the 15-7 victory.
"It was a wake-up call in the third quarter," Estevez said.
"I think we relaxed. We had enough of a cushion to respond and return the favor."
Wilson, trailing 6-2 at halftime and 8-3 early in the third quarter, got consecutive goals from Hernandez and Brandon Cheng to
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
make it 10-6 going the final seven minutes.
Nogales quickly put it away, though, going up 11-6 on a shot from Estevez from the right side with 6:13 left before a steal and tip-in by Castaneda made it 12-6 with 5:18 remaining.
"They executed the entire game," Wilson coach Bill Cavezza said. "They executed way better than we did. We got back into it, but the fourth quarter didn't go well for us."
Read more: http://www.sgvtribune.com/preps/ci_16383148