LJ b water polo: Aftermath of win over Bishop's

In the first overtime Sept. 24, Dexter Black

(black cap, 4) of La Jolla goes under as he battles

against Liam Zarco (white cap, 4) at the

offensive end.

(Photos by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

You know, the local prep water polo scene is so close-mouthed, that no coach wants to give away their secrets. At least at Bishop's and La Jolla.

A recent foray to arrange interviews at a local high school ended in futility. "It's up to them (the players)," was a reason given.

But one secret that's out after La Jolla's 15-14 overtime win over Bishop's Wed., Sept. 24, to open the Western League: The Vikings may have the leader they lacked last year in junior Dexter Black.

Black, 6'6" and rangy (whatever that means), continues to mature. He has seemingly grown into the leader role this fall, from having the skills and the earlier recognition to be named First Team All-CIF last fall.

Now, he's taking up more space. In the Vikings' sizzler win over the Knights at Coggan Aquatic Complex (that is a long phrase), "Dex" (as his teammates call him) occupied a central role in the team's drive for more goals at the offensive end and more stops at the defensive end.

One can just think back to the contest, and how Black would rear up, high out of the water with his lefthanded-throwing motion, and fire from the "three" spot on the perimeter, like a point guard--a la Steph  Curry, though it pains me as a life-long Lakers fan to use him as an example--firing up a three-pointer from distance.

Afterward, adjusting his banged-up body, having just gone through the "sportsmanship" line that teams do at pool's edge to slap each of the hands of the opposing team's members, turning around to go back to his team's bench--a reporter sticks his recorder into his face and blurts out, "What is the feeling?"

Knight Cutter Leach (3) gets mugged

by Viking Ryder Jaseniuk (black cap, 9)

in the second overtime as Bishop's

struggles to come back, trailing 15-14.

Dexter, whose older brother was a star at La Jolla, has grown up with this kind of game savvy. Very confidently, not blustery, he went into a succinct review of the game. He wisely credited his teammate, Henry Glenister, who scored the goal that tied the game near the end of regulation time to send the contest into overtime.

Let's put it this way: He was a good spokesman for the team. He was articulate, to the point, he summed it all up.

Glenister, for his part, was second only to Dex in moving into a co-leadership role with his fellow junior. In fact, some pretty key players for the Vikings this season are juniors. That seems to be the class that will lead the way forward.

There's Ryder Jaseniuk (his mom Mahogany says it's "jazz-nick", Czech), Addie Calhoon, the Vikings' "other" goalie (besides senior George Gayner), Lev Kevorkian, who added a key goal in the first overtime, Quinn Daniels. How can we forget Quinn Daniels? He is scoring at a good clip early this season.

Barney Pearce belongs among that junior bunch, it's just that he doesn't start. He comes in off the bench. But he, too, is in Coach Tom Atwell's rotation every game.

It's not that these juniors didn't have talent before. It's just that they're maturing into their places on the team, and gaining the confidence that comes with playing regularly, many of them starting, and the assurance and credibility that that gives them among their teammates.

In the next big match, Cathedral Catholic comes Thurs., Oct. 9, at home.