Poly’s basketball history is as long and illustrious as that of its football team.
Long Beach Poly basketball has maintained a championship tradition since the early 1900s, when games were played outside in the ocean breeze, the two-hand set shot reigned, and games were won by scores like 14 – 8.
After a hard-fought 2015-16 season plagued by injuries, the Jackrabbits find themselves in position to take their place in Poly’s pantheon of greatness by winning the C.I.F. Division II State Championship tomorrow night at Sacramento’s Sleep Train Arena.
“Our ability to adjust has been a very big key for this team,” said Poly Assistant Coach John Atkinson during a break in early-morning practice on Thursday. “We had a lot of guys get hurt this year so we had a lot of different line-ups. We can also adjust well in the middle of games between ‘zone’ and ‘man’ defense.”
On Saturday, Poly will be facing the Serra Padres, a high-quality team from San Mateo that features 7 foot sophomore Jack Wilson.
“It’s going to be tough [defending Wilson],” said Poly defensive stand-out Harrison Bonner. “We’re going to try and stop him from getting the ball where he likes to get it, force him to get uncomfortable, and work from there.”
Left to Right: Harrison Bonner, Drew Buggs, Head Coach Shelton Diggs, Zafir Williams.
The Jackrabbits will be looking for big point production from their leading scorer, 6′ 6″ junior forward Zafir Williams. Williams will be looking for assists from Poly’s precocious sophomore point guard, 5′ 7″ Darryl Polk Jr.
Polk, who cited the Clippers’ Chris Paul and legendary Laker point guard Magic Johnson as major influences, told the Post that running the Poly offense this year has been a “great experience. It’s my first year being a floor general and I like it a lot.”
Poly Head Coach Shelton Diggs got a great start preparing for championship-level sports: His father, Shelton Sr., was a wide receiver who made one of the greatest catches in USC football history; a shoestring grab of a two-point conversion pass from Pat Haden late in the 1975 Rose Bowl that gave the Trojans an 18-17 win against the Ohio State Buckeyes.
“My Dad always taught us to play to win,” said Shelton Jr. “He instilled that in us from the get-go.”
It’s a relaxed and confident Jackrabbit team that will be making the trip to Sacramento this weekend, a team that’s well aware of the magnitude of the situation.
“It’s a great feeling,” said senior guard Drew Buggs. “We all wanted to be part of history, and we wanted to make history on our own. We finally have that opportunity, and I know this whole team is excited.”
Poly’s trophy case is a mini-museum of prep basketball history.