HIGH SCHOOL PLAYOFF ROUNDUP : Agoura Triple-Teamed in Water Polo, 21-7

A year ago, Rolling Hills, Palos Verdes and Miraleste were separate high schools located in the Palos Verdes area. But last summer, the schools were combined under the name Peninsula High.

South Bay coaches wrung their hands, fearing that a superior program had been born. If the school’s first playoff match in water polo is any indication, the prediction might prove correct.

In a first-round match of the Southern Section 3-A Division playoffs on Wednesday, Peninsula made a spectacular postseason debut, routing Agoura, 21-7, at Agoura.

“They had about five guys with two or more goals,” Agoura Coach Mike Mulligan said. “They lit us up. They played tremendously on defense and we didn’t have lot of opportunities to shoot the ball.”

Jeff Bissell and Terry Polapink each had two goals for Agoura (12-11), which placed second behind Royal in the Marmonte League.

Peninsula led, 11-4, at halftime, and continued to score at the same methodical pace after intermission.

“They were very consistent and patient in the way they moved the ball around,” Mulligan said.

Peninsula (16-8) plays second-seeded Harvard-Westlake in the second round Friday.

In other 3-A first-round water polo matches:

Harvard-Westlake 27, Gahr 7--Ron Scott scored five goals to lead the second-seeded Saracens in a rout at Harvard.

Harvard buried Gahr with an early outburst, taking a 7-0 lead after the first quarter and leading, 13-3, at halftime. Jim Duff and Mark Townsend each had three goals for Harvard (25-3).

Sophomore goalie Peter Kiefer recorded six saves.

Harvard plays Peninsula in the second round. Gahr finished 12-13.

Loyola 13, Hoover 7--The seventh-seeded Cubs (24-3) had little trouble at home.

Aaron Wooler scored seven goals and teammates Kristoph Wattson and Patrick McKeena each had two for Loyola (24-3). Kurt Neubauer added 14 saves in goal.

Hoover finished 15-10.

Muir 14, Thousand Oaks 3--The Mustangs (20-4) easily handled Thousand Oaks (7-11) in a match at Rose Bowl Aquatics Pool in Pasadena.

Muir led, 5-1, at halftime.

Mark McKenna, a junior, scored two goals for Thousand Oaks and Colin Fisher added one. Six players scored for Muir.

GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL

Bell-Jeff d. Glendale, 15-4, 15-8, 15-6--Andy Ferchaw had 12 kills and five aces and Louella Lovely had 25 assists for Bell-Jeff (17-0) in a Southern Section 4-A Division first-round match at Bell-Jeff.

The victory marked the first time that Bell-Jeff has advanced beyond the first round of the playoffs since 1983.

Bell-Jeff is unseeded.

Notre Dame d. Harvard-Westlake, 15-7, 16-14, 15-11--Ani Thorpe had 16 kills as Notre Dame (11-6) won its sixth consecutive match in a 4-A matchup at Notre Dame.

Middle blocker Stefanie Hayes had six kills and three blocks for Notre Dame, the Mission League champion.

L.A. Baptist d. Valley Christian, 15-8, 15-2, 13-15, 15-1--Sarah Rameson had 12 kills and Lucrieta Haynes added 11 for fourth-seeded L.A. Baptist (15-2) in a 1-A first-round match at L.A. Baptist.