With pool closures occurring during the height of the Omicron coronavirus surge affecting teams’ schedules, it was easy to lose track of the 2021-22 girls water polo season.
But the Bonita Vista Lady Barons never lost track of what they wanted to accomplish and came home from last Saturday’s Division III championship game at La Jolla High School with the championship plaque.
Top-seeded Bonita Vista ran its record to 22-8 after recording a 9-0 shutout win over second-seeded Francis Parker (15-6).
“Our girls are very excited for this victory and a memorable season,” BVHS head coach Betty Alexander said. “They have all worked hard to get here. We have a strong group of girls who were coachable and dedicated. We are sorry to lose our seniors but have high hopes for future as we are a young team.”
“It was great win for our community,” Bonita Vista athletic director Tyler Arciaga concurred. “Our girls have overcome a lot of obstacles with pool closures and COVID, which is a testament to their perseverance and work ethic. Our longtime aquatics coach, Betty Alexander, has done a great job with the girls creating a true team atmosphere which is exemplified in their performance.”
The Lady Barons moved out to a 4-0 first-half lead on the strength of three goals by freshman Olivia Gutierrez. Senior goalie Nayelli Rodriguez made it stand up with a scintillating shutout performance in the cage.
“Our goalie was a superstar throughout season,” Alexander said. “She is a wonderful leader and teammate. She and Sylvanna Olivas (co-captains) showed great maturity and leadership all season and led our team to victory.”
The Division III playoff bracket featured four Metro Conference teams.
Eighth-seeded Otay Ranch defeated ninth-seeded Mira Mesa, 12-4, in the opening round to advance to meet Bonita Vista in the quarterfinals — a 22-2 Lady Baron victory.
Tenth-seeded Olympian lost, 11-4, to seventh-seeded Mt. Carmel in the first round while 11th-seeded Montgomery ended its season in the opening round following a 15-4 setback to sixth-seeded Our Lady of Peace.
Bonita Vista defeated fifth-seeded Oceanside, 12-2, in the semifinals while Francis Parker edged Mt. Carmel, 6-5.
As a reward for their division championship, Bonita Vista received the No. 7 seed in this week’s Southern California regionals, meeting second-seeded Corona Centennial in Tuesday’s quarterfinals.
“We’re excited on the season’s outcome, and high hopes for SoCals,” Alexander said.
Prep report
Lady Red Devils, Knights, Mustangs, Cougars advance to CIF basketball finals
In Tuesdays’ All-South Bay League semifinal girls basketball game, the sixth-seeded Sweetwater Lady Devils (11-7) squeezed past the second-seeded Southwest Lady Raiders, 43-34 to advance to Thursday’s Division V championship game against fourth-seeded Palo Verde Valley (17-11) at Mira Mesa High School.
The Lady Red Devils, who finished 6-3 in South Bay League play, proved to be the bracket-buster in Division V with a 71-24 first-round upset win over 11th-seeded Del Lago Academy.
Sweetwater remained on the winning track with a 46-35 win over 14th-seeded Mission Bay in the quarterfinals.
Southwest eliminated 10th-seeded Kearny, 53-21, in the quarterfinals before meeting up with the Lady Devils in the semifinals.
Southwest ended its season 15-9 overall after posting a 9-3 league record.
After winning last year’s Division V girls title, Victory Christian Academy received the No. 1 seed in this year’s Division IV playoffs. The Lady Knights (16-11) defeated fifth-seeded San Diego in Wednesday’s semifinals, 68-25, to advance to Friday’s championship game at 5 p.m. at Mira Mesa High School against third-seeded Steele Canyon (17-13).
The Lady Knights tipped off the playoffs with a 75-13 first-round win over 16th-seeded High Tech High San Diego on Feb. 15.
Friday’s Division IV boys final at 8 p.m. will spotlight second-seeded Victory Christian (20-10) against top-seeded Monte Vista (22-5) after the Knights topped sixth-seeded Crawford, 84-48, in Wednesday’s semifinals.
The second-seeded Otay Ranch Mustangs (18-11) will meet the fourth-seeded Mt. Carmel Sundevils (22-9) in the Division II boys finals at San Marcos High School (8 p.m. top-off) after defeating sixth-seeded Hoover, 58-56, in Wednesday’s semifinals.
The Mustangs were denied a chance to meet top-seeded Montgomery (24-7) after the Aztecs were upset, 68-67, by Mt. Carmel.
Mesa League champion San Ysidro (23-7) will meet top-seeded St. Augustine (22-7) in Saturday’s Open Division boys final at Montgomery High School Saturday at 5 p.m. at Montgomery High School after the seventh-seeded Cougars upset third-seeded Torrey Pines, 69-67, in Wednesday’s semifinals.
San Ysidro has recorded upsets in both its playoff games so far after tipping off the Open Division quarterfinals last Saturday with a 66-52 win over second-seeded San Marcos.
Senior Martin Flores paced the Cougars with 29 points in Wednesday’s statement victory while senior Senior Sebastion Medina dropped in 19 points.
St. Augustine also logged a cliff-hanger semifinal win, 66-65, over fifth-seeded La Costa Canyon.
