Culver City Water Polo Makes Playoffs

After a third-place finish in the Ocean League, the Culver City High School girls water polo team has qualified for the CIF Southern Section Division 6 playoffs.

The Centaurs get to host Westlake Village Oaks Christian, the third-place team from the Tri-Valley League, in the first round at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Whichever team wins will travel to top-seeded and reigning champion Warren of Downey in the second round Thursday. Warren, the San Gabriel Valley League winner, has a first-round bye, as do Ocean League champion El Segundo (the No. 2 seed) and runner-up Santa Monica.

Led by attacker Ruth Basurto and goalie Amanda Duval, Coach Nestor Dordoni's squad opened the season with 11 straight victories, then finished third in league ahead of archrival Beverly Hills, Torrance and Marlborough.

Malibu, a finalist last winter, finished second in the Tri-Valley League this year and hosts Pasadena La Salle in the first round. Santa Monica will host the La Quinta-Beaumont winner in the second round while El Segundo will host Mountain Pass League champion Hemet in the second round. Warren, El Segundo and Samo were the top three ranked teams in the final Divison 6 regular season poll.

Semifinal games are Wednesday, Feb. 22, at Fullerton Junior College and the CIF-SS Division 6 final is Saturday, Feb. 25, at 10:20 a.m. at Woollett Junior Aquatic Center in Irvine.

Click here to view the CIF Southern Section girls water polo brackets.