The outright Valley Oak League championship is within reach for Sierra’s girls water polo team after its comfortable 11-5 win at East Union on Monday.
Meanwhile, Collins Schluer continued his season-long scoring binge, as the boys rolled, 17-8.
It’s the final two weeks of what is shaping up to be the most successful season for the young program as a whole, even if all of its home games and practices are being held across town at Manteca High.
The girls squad is now 6-0 in the VOL and 17-7 overall with a sweep of second-place Sonora already secured.
“Not to sound cocky, but we know it’s there,” Sierra coach Lauren Koury said of the program’s impending first league title. “It’s so exciting, but I’ve always been a ‘jinx person’ and I don’t want to jinx anything.
“It’s also kind of sad, because we have seven seniors and we’ve all kind of grown up together. I’ve coached them since they were in sixth or seventh grade with the Manteca Dolphins. I think it’s going to be really emotional, because they’ve worked so hard for it year round. It’s a well-deserved title, but the job is not finished yet.”
With Sierra so heavily favored in its remaining league contests, Koury is using these opportunities to get her younger players up to speed. The final margin could have been much wider against undermanned East Union, which had no available substitutes, but Sierra opted to work on its offensive sets rather than to take advantage of counter attacks.
The Timberwolves had eight different players score Monday.
Kenidee Bauer finished with three goals and an assist, and fellow freshman Pheobe Burke scored twice.
Charlene Trinh (four steals, assist), Olivia Knott (two assists), Keira Brink (two steals, assist), Stephanie Thomason (assist, block), Molly Allen (assist) and Bianca Fraser tallied one goal apiece. Gianna Ramos contributed two assists and a steal in her limited time.
Brink started at goalie and racked up four saves in the first quarter before getting replaced by Ella Wright (five saves).
“We’re trying a lot of things and getting our younger girls to have more confidence and react a little bit better in the pool,” Koury said. “Our eyes are set on postseason.”
Annie Story anchored East Union, recording three goals, two assists and two steals. Benny Wa and Jazmin Chavez chipped in one goal each.
For the boys (6-3, 12-10), Schluer came into the week with 171 goals, 210 points and 39 assists. His goal and point totals are tops in the nation, according to stats submitted to MaxPreps.
He added nine more goals and three assists Monday, to go with two steals and two blocks.
Bayan Ballew buried all four of his goals in the first quarter, adding two assists. Noah Brum, Travis Moore, Carson Murray and Isaias Navarro each added a goal.
Goalie Noah Valdivia collected four saves in the first half, while freshman Kiral Tran amassed six in the second half.
With Ripon running away with another league crown, Sierra is battling with Oakdale and Sonora for one of the two remaining Sac-Joaquin Section automatic playoff berths.
“We just came off of fall break, and a lot of the boys were still coming to those practices, which was really reassuring,” Sierra coach Corey Winter said. “They’re still motivated. We have some pretty big games coming up. Oakdale is kind of the one we’re focusing on, and we’re trying to get higher up for the playoffs.”
East Union was paced by Gabriel Holguin’s five goals, three steals and one assist. He was one of five Lancers honored for senior night. Fellow senior Matthew Potter pitched in four steals, two assists and a block.
Davis Duff, James Russell and Sawyer Allen each contributed a goal. Drew Souza had three assists and a steal. Alexander Freeman was busy in the goal, totaling 14 saves along with two assists.
