The Liberty High School boys water polo team is headed for the CIF Division 4 finals after defeating Culver City 13-11 on the road Tuesday night.
Cael Hansen, Rylan Holloway, and Gavin Stephens scored 3 goals each for the Bison, who improved their record to 25-7. They will play Charter Oak on Saturday at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut. Game time has not been announced.
Emmett Mino and Chase Mankin had 2 goals each as the Bison finished strong to knock off Culver City, which finished the season with a 23-10 record.
“The game was tied going into the fourth quarter with the season on the line,” said Bison assistant coach Caleb Royer. “The boys weren’t rattled; they were ready. They came together as they have all year and put together a fourth quarter they’ll remember for a long time. Each of the seven kids in the pool contributed and made winning plays. I couldn’t be more proud!”
Head coach Hailey Badham couldn’t say enough about the performance of the players.
“I hope these boys understand the severity of what going to the CIF finals is,” she said. “I feel like I’m constantly repeating myself, but I truly cannot put into words how proud I am of these boys and the success that they have built together.
“Looking back, starting a water polo program together four years ago to now watching these boys continue to move up in the brackets heading to the championship is truly a feeling that I am so grateful to have as a coach.”
