State Tournament Bracket

The 2011 Boys State Water Polo Championships bracket has been released.

The tournament will begin at 3:00 on Thursday, November 3, with games being played at Lakes High School, in Lakewood, WA, and Rogers High School, in Puyallup, WA. Games will continue for the top eight qualifying teams on Friday and Saturday, at the King County Aquatic Center (KCAC), in Federal Way, WA.

Seeding will be determined by a tournament committee, based on league standings and non-league results.

11 Teams have qualified for the tournament, including Enumclaw, Auburn Mountainview, Auburn Riverside, Wilson, Curtis, Rogers, Puyallup, Peninsula, Emerald Ridge. Newport, and Bellevue. Roosevelt and Bainbridge Island will play for the North Division's third seed on Monday, October 31, at 8:15 at KCAC

Each of the top 12 teams will play two games on Thursday, with the top eight teams advancing to the final rounds at KCAC.

Hornets Beat Riverside, Finish 6-4 in League Play

The Enumclaw High School Boys Water Polo Team beat league rival Auburn Riverside 14-13 on Thursday in a tough game between two state tournament bound teams.

The visiting Ravens got off to a fast start, scoring two goals in the first four minutes, to take a 2-0 lead. Hornet Mason Culp put Enumclaw on the scoreboard when he scored on Enumclaw's third power play, with 3:26 left in the first quarter. Raven Luke Andrews scored a minute later, and Enumclaw's Will Cooper scored with 47 seconds left in the quarter, for a 3-2 Riverside advantage going into the second quarter.

Auburn Riverside, led by Thomas Henline's three goals, scored six in the second quarter, and held the Hornets to four goals, holding a 9-6 lead at halftime. The Hornet defense adjusted to Riverside's play at center, and turned up their offense to outscore the Ravens 5-1 in the third period, and take an 11-10 lead into the final period.

Both teams played tough through the final period, with the score tied twice in the final four minutes of the game, but Mason Culp put the Hornets ahead for good with a goal with 2:49 left in the game.

The Hornets had scoring from five players in the win – Bennon VanHoof scored four, Gabe Sales and Mason Culp each scored three, and Thomas Petersen and Will Cooper scored two each. Goalkeeper Austin Kaehn had 13 saves in the game.

Enumclaw finished their regular season with a 6-4 league record; 14-11 overall.

Both teams will advance to the State tournament next week, with group play beginning on Thursday, November 3. Details will be posted on this web site as they become available.

Emerald Ridge Game Canceled

Enumclaw's water polo game against Emerald Ridge, originally scheduled for October 28, has been canceled due to lack of pool availability. The Hornets last regular season game will be against Auburn Riverside on Thursday, October 27, at the Enumclaw Aquatic Center.

Post-season play for the Hornets will begin on Thursday, November 3rd, and will take place at Curtis High School, Lakes High School, or Rogers High School. The site and game times will be determined by the Hornets' seeding.

Enumclaw Beats Stadium

The Enumclaw High School Boys Water Polo Team beat the Stadium Tigers 24-13 in a home game on Thursday, October 20.

The Hornets scored seven goals in the opening quarter, led by Thomas Petersen's three goals, and scores by Will Cooper, Mason Culp, Bennon VanHoof, and Gabe Sales. Enumclaw scored ten in the second period, led by VanHoof's four goals. Cooper, Carson Lanphere, and Brandon Butler scored two each in the second quarter.

Enumclaw's scoring slowed in the second half, with only two goals in the third period – one each by Butler and VanHoof. Four Hornets scored one goal apiece in the final quarter – Petersen, Cooper, Riley Sexton, and Bryce VanHoof.

Nine Hornets scored in the victory. Bennon VanHoof led all scorers with six goals. Thomas Petersen and Will Cooper scored four each, Brandon Butler scored three. Carson Lanphere and Gabe Sales each added two, and Riley Sexton, Bryce VanHoof, and Mason Culp each scored a goal.

The Hornets host a strong Auburn Riverside team next Thursday, October 27 at the Enumclaw Aquatic Center. Game time is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.

DVDs Available of Oregon Games from NW Game Films

NW Game Films has made DVDs of the Tualatin Hills Invitational water polo games available online here. All of the 35 games played at the tournament are available, including the seven games Enumclaw played. They can also be previewed online.

Nine Hornets Score in Enumclaw Win

Nine Hornets scored on Thursday as the Enumclaw High School Boys Water Polo Team beat Kentridge 16-15 in the third game between the two teams this season. This was the Hornets' tenth game in a week, as they just returned from the Tualatin Hills "Best of the Northwest" Invitational Tournament Sunday afternoon.

The Hornets ripped off to a fast start, scoring three goals in the first two minutes – one each by Bennon VanHoof, Thomas Petersen, and Mason Culp – to take a 3-0 lead. Two more goals by Petersen, and one by Will Cooper, pushed the Hornet lead to 6-1 at the end of the first period.

Bennon VanHoof added two more in the second quarter, and Bryce VanHoof and Carson Lanphere each score one, to give Enumclaw a 10-4 lead at halftime. The Hornets had shot attempts from nearly every field player in the second half, and scores by Bryce VanHoof, Seth Rickard, Quinn Warner, Gabe Sales, and Cooper, as the Hornets held on for the 16-15 win.

This was the third meeting between the two teams, and is not a league game.

The Hornets are now 4-4 in league play, 12-11 overall. Enumclaw hosts Stadium in an 8:30 game on Thursday.

Hornets Finish 4-3 in Tualatin Hills Invitational

The Enumclaw High School Boys Water Polo Team traveled to Beaverton, OR this weekend to take part in the Tualatin Hills "Best of the Northwest" Invitational Tournament, and returned with four wins and three losses against some strong Oregon teams.

The Hornets opened the tournament on Friday with a 12-4 loss to Lakeridge and a 15-0 loss to Southridge, but redeemed themselves with four wins on Saturday – against Tualatin 13-6 at 10:15 a.m., over South Eugene 7-6 at 2 p.m., against Reynolds 11-8 at 5:45. and a second win over Tualatin at 8 p.m., 7-1

On Sunday the Hornets finished competition with a hard fought 8-7 overtime loss to Beaverton. Junior Bennon VanHoof scored 27 goals in the three-day tournament, and Thomas Petersen added nine. Will Cooper scored six, Brandon Butler scored three, Riley Sexton and Mason Culp each added two, and Bryce VanHoof and Carson Lanphere scored a goal each.

The Hornets host Kentridge on Monday at 7:30, and continue league play on Thursday, hosting Stadium in an 8:30 contest.

Hornets Lose in Overtime

The EHS Boys Water Polo Team lost a hard-fought game to Auburn Mountainview in overtime on Thursday afternoon.

The Lions got off to a 2-0 lead in the first quarter, on goals by Brady Gardner and Stephen Creed. The Lions stretched their lead to 4-0 in the second period until Mason Culp put the Hornets on the scoreboard with a goal with six seconds left in the first half.

Enumclaw outscored the visitors in the next two quarters to close the gap, and Thomas Petersen scored the tying goal on a power play with 2:31 left in the game.

In the first overtime, Mountainview's Hunter Arnold scored on a power play in the second minute of the overtime period, and Enumclaw's Bennon VanHoof responded with another tying goal 14 seconds later. Lion Brady Gardner scored with 24 seconds left in the first overtime, for a 9-8 Mountainview lead.

VanHoof tied the game at 9-9 in the first minute of the second overtime, and former Auburn goalkeeper Kendall Ray scored the winning goal with 29 seconds left in the second overtime.

NFHS rules dictate that a tie game should continue into two three-minute overtime periods. If the game is still tied after two three-minute overtime periods, the game would continue to sudden-victory three-minute overtime periods.

October 20 Game Time Changes

The Stadium at Enumclaw game scheduled for next Thursday, October 20 has been changed to start at 8:30 p.m., instead of the previously scheduled 4:30 p.m.

Stadium Forfeits September 27 Game

The Stadium Tigers have chosen to forfeit their game against Enumclaw originally scheduled for September 27. Stadium started their season late, and and could not find time in their shortened season to re-schedule the game. The game is entered as a victory for the Hornets, improving their league record to 4-3, 7-7 overall.

Stadium will travel to Enumclaw to face the Hornets on Thursday, October 20. Game time is scheduled for 4:30.

Enumclaw Beats Kentridge 17-11

The Enumclaw High School Boys Water polo Team beat Kentridge on Thursday at the Enumclaw Aquatic Center.

Enumclaw scored first on a goal by Bennon VanHoof 11 seconds into the game, but Kentridge tied the game two minutes later, and took a 2-1 lead with 1:26 left in the opening quarter. VanHoof tied the game with one minute left. The Hornets ran away in the second quarter, maintaining their stingy defense, and scoring eight goals on offense, to take a 10-4 advantage into halftime.

The two teams played even through the second half, with the Hornets maintaining their six point lead, for a 17-11 win.

VanHoof led all scorers, with ten points in the game. Gabe Sales and Will Cooper each added two goals, and Thomas Petersen, Carson Lanphere, and Brandon Butler each score a goal.

On defense, the Hornets tallied 38 steals in the game, led by VanHoof with 10, and freshman goalkeeper Austin Kaehn with seven. Kaehn also gathered 15 saves in goal.

The Hornets play host to league-leading Auburn Mountainview on Thursday at 3:30. Enumclaw lost to the Lions 9-2 earlier in the season.

Hornet JV Look Good in Auburn Tournament

The EHS JV Water Polo Team took part in Auburn's JV tournament on Saturday, and played well against three of the state's best water polo programs, losing to Curtis, tying Bellevue, and beating perennial powerhouse Mercer Island.

In the Hornet squad's first game of the day, Enumclaw lost to Curtis 8-5. The Hornets kept it close for the first half, trailing the Vikings 3-2 at halftime. But Curtis' physical play frustrated the Hornets, and the Vikings were able to take advantage of Enumclaw's mistakes and extend their lead through the third and fourth quarters, for the final 8-5 decision.

Brandon Butler scored two for the Hornets in the opening loss, and Riley Sexton, Bryce VanHoof, and Seth Rickard each scored a goal.

In Enumclaw's second game, the Hornets faced Bellevue, another physical team. Bellevue dominated the Hornets early, holding a 2-1 lead after one period, and a 4-2 lead with one minute left in the first half. Hornet Patrick Peet scored in the last minute of the first half, and River Cory scored early in the third period, to tie the game at 4-4. The teams traded scores in the remainder of the third quarter, for a 6-5 Bellevue lead going into the final quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Riley Sexton tied it for Enumclaw on a power play in the opening minute. Goals by Brandon Butler and Patrick Peet gave Enumclaw an 8-6 advantage with three minutes left in the game, but Bellevue was able to scratch back, scoring with 2:40 left and on a last-second shot, to tie the game 8-8.

In the Hornets' final game of the day, Enumclaw bounced back to beat Mercer Island after falling behind 2-0 early in the second quarter. The Hornets fought back to hold a 3-2 lead at halftime, and a 6-4 advantage after three periods. Enumclaw held Mercer Island scoreless in the final quarter, and added two goals from Brandon Butler and one from Bryce VanHoof, to finish with a 9-4 win. Butler scored five of the Hornet goals in the win, and Riley Sexton, Bryce VanHoof, Seth Rickard, and Shay Larsen each scored one.

Tualatin Hills Tournament Schedule Posted

The Tualatin Hills Boys Invitational Water Polo Tournament has posted the preliminary schedule for the October 14-16 tournament.

Two teams from Washington, and eight from Oregon will make up the ten-team tournament. Mercer Island will play their opening games in the "A" group, against Newberg, Beaverton, Reynolds, and Westview. Enumclaw will play in the "B" group, facing Southridge, South Eugene, Lakeridge, and Tualatin.

The Hornets' first game will be at 5:15 on Friday, against Lakeridge. The Hornets second game will be on Friday against Southridge, at 8:15. Enumclaw will finish group play on Saturday, with a 10:15 game against Tualatin, and a 1:15 contest against South Eugene. Remaining games will be determined by the results of group play.

Enumclaw Beats Wilson 12-10

The Enumclaw Boys Water Polo Team beat Wilson 12-10 in a Thursday night game in Tacoma.

The Hornets got off to a fast start when Will Copper scored in the first minute of play. Gabe Sales scored twice in the first quarter, and Bennon VanHoof and Thomas Petersen added one each, giving the visiting Hornets a 5-2 advantage at the end of the opening quarter.

Wilson fought back in the second period, scoring five to tie Enumclaw 7-7 at halftime. The Hornets took back the lead in the first minute of the third period on Gabe Sales' third goal of the game, and held a thin 10-9 lead after three quarters.

Both teams went scoreless through the first five minutes of the final quarter, but Thomas Petersen broke the scoring drought when he scored with 94 seconds left in the game. Wilson scored on a power play to narrow the Hornet lead to 11-10 with 34 seconds left in the game, but Will Cooper sealed the deal for Enumclaw, scoring with 19 seconds left in the game.

The Hornets are now 2-3 in league play, 5-7 overall.

The Enumclaw JV travel to Auburn for a JV tournament on Saturday. The Hornets face Curtis at 11:40, Bellevue at 1:40, and Mercer Island at 3:00.

The Hornet varsity continue league play next week, hosting Kentridge at 7:30 on Tuesday and Auburn Mountainview at 3:30 on Thursday.

Tualatin Hills Invitational Water Polo Tournament

The Enumclaw High School Boys Water Polo Team will travel to Beaverton, Oregon on October 14 to take part in the first annual Tualatin Hills Invitational Water Polo Tournament.

The event, sponsored by Westview High School, is being promoted as the Best of the Northwest. Mercer Island, who finished at the top of the Washington State poll, and Enumclaw, who finished third at the South Puget Sound Washington State tournament, are the only teams from Washington. All other teams taking part are from Oregon.

The Hornets hope to play 7-8 games over the three day tournament, beginning Friday afternoon, October 14.

The competition will take place at the Tualatin Hills Aquatic Center, 15707 SW Walker Road, Beaverton, OR, beginning on Friday, October 14, and concluding on Sunday, October 16.

Auburn Riverside Beats Enumclaw

On Tuesday the Auburn Riverside Ravens welcomed Enumclaw back to league play, beating the Hornets 25-14.

The Hornets stayed close through the first half, limiting the Ravens to three goals and a 3-2 lead after one quarter of play, and trailing just 8-10 after the first half. But Enumclaw couldn't shut down the powerful Raven offense all night, and Riverside scored seven goals in the third quarter, and eight in the fourth, while Enumclaw only scored six in the second half.

The Hornets were led by Mason Culp's six goals; Bennon VanHoof added four. Also scoring for Enumclaw were Gabe Sales with two goals, and Thomas Petersen and Will Cooper with one each.

The Hornets travel to Tacoma on Thursday to face Wilson for a 6:00 rematch with the Rams. Wilson beat Enumclaw 20-16 on September 13.