Burroughs boys’ water polo begins DIII playoffs against Beckman
A season ago at this time, the Burroughs High boys’ water polo team was getting ready to embark upon a history-making endeavor that culminated with the program’s first CIF Southern Section championship and just the second in school athletics history.
Just two days before this year’s CIF playoff brackets were unveiled, the Indians claimed their first Pacific League championship and the program’s first league title since 1994.
On Saturday morning, the Indians learned their path ahead in a quest for CIF Southern Section Division III triumph.
Burroughs will open the playoffs on Tuesday against Beckman at Burroughs High. All games are scheduled for 5 p.m. unless a mutual change is agreed upon.
“We’re just keeping our head up, practicing hard and taking it one game at a time,” Indians coach Jacob Cook said. “We have a lot of returners from the championship team last year, so we definitely have the experience.
“When these guys are motived, they play up, they play well.”
Burroughs (14-8), which won the Division V title last season over San Juan Hills, 12-7, is coming off a Pacific League title-winning victory over Hoover, 6-5, on Thursday.
Beckman (16-13) finished third in the formidable Pacific Coast League, which was won by Corona del Mar, the Division II No. 2 seed, with Woodbridge, the Division III No. 3 seed, taking second.
“I know they come from a pretty good league,” Cook said. “It should be a pretty good game.”
Tuesday’s winner will advance to the second round Thursday to face Channel League co-champion Dos Pueblos (21-7) or Palomares No. 3 Claremont (9-18).
Despite his team’s championship pedigree, Cook is well aware that the Division III waters will be more arduous than Division V.
“Division III, the teams are a lot better,” Cook said. “I think if we play our best [against Beckman], we should win, but it’s the playoffs and anything can happen.
“We just want to go as far as we can.”
Twitter: @TCNGrantGordon
