You could pretty much build the rest of your calendar around a Long Beach Poly girls’ basketball appearance in the State Regional Championship in mid-March, something they’ve done with impressive consistency in recent years. Of course, the past is the past, and tonight…well, tonight is a tough contest with the Colony Titans, which Poly will have to win if they want to make a fourth straight appearance in the state title game.
While the Jackrabbits have the history, the Titans were a mediocre squad for a while before coach Edward Taylor took over last season. In their previous two years, they were 34-29. Since Taylor took over, they’re 57-6 over the last two years, and they come into tonight’s game with the same record that Poly has, 30-3.
A lot of that success is due to senior Camille Buckley (#24), a six-foot tall forward/center hybrid who’s averaging 22 points per-game from the interior (she hasn’t attempted a three-pointer this season). Buckley is a legit player, who’s scored under 15 points only once this season—she can also knock down her free-throws, something Poly’s bigs will have to keep in mind. Their other major player is Jazmyne White (#23), who averages 13 per-game—no other player is averaging more than six a game. White is a 5’9″ forward, who is lean and a decent jump-shooter, though she’s definitely a mid-range threat.
The team runs through Buckley and White, on both ends of the floor, and on the glass—they’re averaging 18 rebounds a game between the two of them, and the Titans average 20 per-game total. They do play good defense (which is how they upset Cajon on Thursday), as they’ve only allowed teams to score more than 60 points on them three times (two were losses).
As good as Buckley and White are, the Colony style probably matches up better for Poly than a Cajon, or maybe even a Troy. If the ‘Rabbits don’t settle their press break down, they could see some turnovers there, but on their own defensive half, Poly hasn’t struggled with interior players, but with creative, speedy, hot-shooting guards, such as Jasmine Lister, and Layshia Clarendon. Hopefully with Monique Oliver, Sheila Boykin, Thaddesia Southall, and Ta’Nitra Byrd, Poly will have enough of their own trees in the middle that they can put a roof over the Titans in the Poly—excuse us, Pauley—Pavilion tonight.
The game starts at six, and there are four games before, so it could be a little later—still, you should probably get there early. Tickets are $10 for children, students, and seniors, $16 for general admission, $20 for “arena seating,” and $40 for courtside VIP tickets. If you park on campus you’ll want lots 4 or 7, and parking will be an additional nine bucks. You can probably find parking for free on Veteran if you get there early enough. Here are the driving directions from the Pyramid—we’ll see you there!