The562’s coverage of Long Beach Poly is sponsored by Bryson Financial
The562’s coverage of Cabrillo Athletics is sponsored by the Cohn Family.
Continuing the final week of their regular season schedule, Long Beach Poly picked up another league win against Cabrillo on Tuesday night, winning by a margin of 78-46.
“That’s the team we’re supposed to win against so we came out and played right and did what we were supposed to do,” said Poly coach Shelton Diggs. “We just need to continue to get it done.”
After their huge win on Monday against Lakewood, the Jackrabbits are in line for at least a share of the Moore League Championship, with the possibility of winning it outright. The Jackrabbits will close out their schedule against Millikan on Thursday as they look to avoid another trap-game and pick up momentum heading into the CIF-SS playoffs.
If they beat the Rams, they’ll secure a league championship, and could win it by themselves if Lakewood loses at Jordan.
“Today was good and we’re gonna try and build off of (this win),” said poly guard Giovanni Ofoegbu. “We just wanna keep this rolling but we have to take it one game at a time, though.”
Trying not to overlook the Jags, the Jackrabbits were given a simple message in the huddle before the game; set the tone. Though Cabrillo hung on in the opening minutes of the game, Poly began to do just that as they put together a 12-0 run to end the first quarter with a double digit lead over the Jags. Poly kept their lead in the second behind Jovani’s Ruff’s nine second-quarter points as the Jackrabbits went into the break up 35-25.
“It was good for us to set the tone,” said Diggs of Poly’s opening quarters. “We just had to make sure we were playing the right way and doing the right thing, that’s all. Cabrillo was gonna come out and play a tough, hard game so we needed to come out the way we did.”
However, drama began to arise immediately after the break starting with a technical foul against Cabrillo in the layup line before the third quarter even started. Jags’ fans responded with negative cheers that spilled into the opening minutes of the third, as players began feeding into the energy of the crowd causing numerous altercations. A player from each team would eventually be handed a technical foul in the third as the coaches from both sides encouraged their players to get back to basketball.
Despite the third quarter drama, Ofoegbu was able to find his rhythm as the junior caught fire in the period, nailing back-to-back-to-back threes in the left corner causing the Poly bench to erupt onto their feet. Ofoegbu finished the game with 16 points and said the energy in Ron Palmer Pavilion didn’t stop him from focusing in through the third quarter.
“My teammates know that the corner is my spot so every time they see me in the corner they hit me,” said Ofoegbu, who had 10 of his 16 points in the third quarter. “But we just all stay composed during the game. All the noise didn’t really rattle us.”
Poly grew a 30-point lead into the fourth quarter as the Jackrabbits were able to unload their bench in the closing minutes to eventually win in their second to last game of the season. Austin Unegbu had a game-high 17 points, while Jonas Oware matched Ofoegbu with a 16-point game.
As for the Jags, Kaleb Curry matched the game high with 17 points, while Lincoln Dean chipped in 10.
Cabrillo has a big game of their own on Thursday as they look to secure a playoff spot. If the Jags can win at Wilson, they’re in the playoffs, but a loss makes things more complicated.
Below are the playoff scenarios for all three teams battling for the final two guaranteed playoff spots out of the Moore League.
Moore League Boys’ Basketball Playoff Scenarios
(3rd & 4th place receive automatic playoff berths)
Cabrillo (15-12, 6-5 Moore League)
Win vs. Wilson + Jordan Loss: 3rd place
Win vs. Wilson + Jordan Win: Tied for 3rd place
Loss vs. Wilson + Jordan Win: Tied for 4th place. Play-in Game vs. Wilson on Friday.
Loss vs. Wilson + Jordan Loss: 3-way tie for 3rd place (Envelope draw for 3rd place; play-in game for 4th place on Friday between remaining 2 teams)
Jordan (13-14, 6-5 Moore League)
Win vs. Lakewood + Cabrillo Loss: 3rd place
Win vs. Lakewood + Cabrillo Win: Tied for 3rd place
Loss vs. Lakewood + Cabrillo Win: 4th place
Loss vs. Lakewood + Cabrillo Loss: 3-way tie for 3rd place
Wilson (15-12, 5-6 Moore League)
Win vs. Cabrillo + Jordan Loss: 3-way tie for 3rd place
Win vs. Cabrillo + Jordan Win: Tied for 4th place. Play-in Game vs. Cabrillo on Friday.
Loss vs. Cabrillo: 5th place (will need at-large bid for playoffs)