The last Culver City High School CIF playoff team, boys’ soccer, was knocked out of the big dance last Tuesday when Bishop Amat beat the Centaurs 1-0 on their home field. Culver City had several chances to tie the game but their shots on goal did not find their mark.
Four other Culver City High School teams were also eliminated from the CIF playoffs last week, but the boys’ soccer team was the last team standing. The soccer team finished the season 12-5-1 overall and 6-2 in Ocean league play. The Centaurs had won seven games in a row before the Division 2 loss to Bishop Amat. Boys’ soccer did win two playoff games against Sergerstrom 2-1 and Norte Vista 2-1. The 23-4-3 Bishop Amat team moves on to the semifinals.
The Culver City High School girls’ soccer team was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by Granite Hills 4-2. It was a hard-fought home game that was dominated by Granite Hills goalie who stopped several Culver City shots with her athletic play. The Culver City girls finished the season with a record of 8-6-1 overall and they were 7-1 in Ocean league play.
The girls’ basketball team made it to the second round in Division 5A, but they were eliminated by Burbank Burroughs 51-23 at Burroughs. The Centaurs finished the season with a 13-13 record. They beat Santa Paula 44-40 in the first round.
Boys’ basketball lost their first-round game to Saugus in heartbreak fashion, 65-64 after their best two players fouled out in the fourth quarter in their Division 4A game. William Fourte and Jordan Njoku, both seniors, are the best two male athletes in the school and without them on the court the Centaurs had a hard time handling Saugus’ pressure defense. They finished the season 11-12.
The girls water polo team won their first round Division 4 CIF playoff match, beating Westminster 12-4 but they were eliminated by Hemet 8-3 on the road in the second round. The Centaurs finished the season 15-9.
In general, the Culver City High School winter sports teams did very well when you consider how many high schools don’t make the CIF playoffs. It’s a tremendous testament to the administration, especially the hard-working Athletic Director, Adam Eskridge and the rest of the excellent coaches, the outstanding athletes and the parents and fans.
