Tiger polo players drop two West Yosemite League matches in a row

In the Mt. Whitney match Luke Brown score four times in the losing effort. Roman Benitez and Jonah Burke each scored twice.

Lemoore's water polo players had a tough time of it last week losing to Redwood in the WYT and the Visalia Tournament. The Rangers defeated them in the Visalia tournament 13-9 and a West Yosemite League match on Tuesday, the Tigers again suffered a loss in the Rangers' pool. This time Redwood beat the Tigers 17-7. Lemoore got three goals each from Jake Hansen and Calvin Rhoads. Lemoore fell to 1-1 in the WYL.

Visalia Tournament

Lemoore’s varsity boys’ water polo team won four of five matches in the Visalia Tournament held this past weekend. Lemoore’s only loss was a 13-9 loss to West Yosemite League foe Redwood. The Rangers, despite three goals apiece from Ethan Barnhart and Spencer Stinger, dropped a 13-9 decision.

The Tigers opened with an 11-8 win over Strathmore. Jake Hansen scored four times for the Tigers while Peter Castro chipped in with three goals and Roman Benitez had two scores in the opener.

In game two, Tulare Western was victim number 2 as Ethan Ashby, Benitez and Stinger each scored twice for a 13-6 win. Barnhart, Luke Brown, Jonah Burke, Castro, Tyler Evans, Chase McDonald, and Calvin Rhoads each scored a goal.

Lemoore crushed Clovis West 17-1 as Rhoads scored four goals and Barnhart and Hansen each had three goals. Benitez and McDonald each scored twice.

In the Tigers final game, they took third place with a 9-8 victory over another WYL foe, El Diamante.

Hanford West WYL opener

The pool was good to Lemoore’s varsity boys’ water polo players Tuesday night as they beat back Hanford West in a wild 13-9 win. The Tiger ladies weren’t as fortunate, dropping a disappointing 13-7 contest to the Huskies.

Spencer Stinger led the boys with four goals on seven shots as the Tigers took the early lead then held on as Hanford West mounted a comeback. Peter Castro had three goals on a perfect 3 for 3 night. The defensive star of the night had to be Luke Brown who came up with four steals and a pair of assists as the Tigers won their West Yosemite League opener and improved to 4-3 on the season.

Lemoore will play a pair of games this Friday (Sept. 26) and open with Strathmore at Tulare Union High School. The Tigers will also play Tulare Western.

In girls’ action, Kelly Mellott scored four goals but it wasn’t enough as the Tigers dropped their WYL opener 13-7. Emily Larmon, Alyssa Vazquez and Gianna Lucas each scored a goal for Lemoore. Macy Buhl had 10 saves.

“My girls are dangerous in the water, but they need to believe in the system and persevere through adversity,” said Tiger Coach Hilary Bennett. “We are a good team, but we didn’t show it tonight. There were too many turnovers and missed opportunities.”

The Tiger ladies dropped to 4-2 on the season and will travel on Tuesday to Visalia where they will match up with Redwood High School.

The girls’ JVs won 14-7. McKenna Davis had five goals while Lauryn and Katelyn Pedersen each had four.