Poly beats No. 1-ranked team in nation

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It wasn’t redemption. Not vindication. Nothing like that, the coach emphasized. It was just a win -- well, maybe a smidgen more. ‘It was awesome,’ said Carl Buggs, the coach of the Long Beach Poly girls’ basketball team.

Why so awesome? The Jackrabbits jacked up the No. 1-ranked team in the nation, Notre Dame Academy (9-1) from Middleburg, Va., with a 58-54 victory in the finals of the Chandler (Ariz.) Tournament of Champions tonight -- and they also restored their cachet as possibly the best squad in the nation.

Two weeks ago, Poly, then the top-ranked team in the country by the USA Today, lost to San Francisco Sacred Heart Cathedral and suddenly doubt loomed over the program. After tonight, all doubt has been erased. ‘I didn’t look at this as vindication,’ Buggs said of the victory, ‘because I looked at our loss as making us a better team.’

Poly (6-1) is ranked No. 4 nationally and could climb into the top spot after tonight. Does the coach even care about rankings? ‘Now, no,’ Buggs said. ‘I just care where we are by season’s end.’

-- Anthony Stitt