Girls’ basketball: Long Beach Poly wanted to rule the nation but...

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Their season is finished and two goals were met: They won CIF and they captured the state crown. The third goal, well, it didn’t happen.

All season long, the Long Beach Poly Jackrabbits gunned for a season-ending target: the No. 1 ranking in the nation -- they finished No. 3, according to the USA Today girls’ basketball rankings. ‘A little disappointing,’ said Coach Carl Buggs. ‘But, once you lose one time, it’s hard to be No. 1.’

Poly, which began the season as the top-ranked team, actually lost twice -- first to San Francisco Sacred Heart Cathedral, then to Long Beach Millikan.

So, now, next season, the mission is there, as Buggs said: ‘The undefeated season is always what we’re shooting for.’

And, if that happens, the Jackrabbits should claim their No. 1 national ranking.

-- Anthony Stitt

-- Image from infoplease.com