West's speed overwhelms East

Apparently, all it takes is one month for water polo athletes to lose their touch.

Porterville Luke Peltzer said most of the All-Stars in Saturday’s East-West All-Star boys’ game were immediately winded after being a month away from season’s end in November.

“I was really out of shape,” Peltzer said.

The senior still managed to score two goals — both in the first quarter — but by the end of that period, the WYL-led West squad already held a 6-2 lead and went on to win it, 15-6.

Peltzer, joined by Panthers teammate Alec MacIsaac and two Monache rivals Evan Thomas and Garret Blocher, squared off against a much faster West team that featured stars from Hanford, Hanford West, Golden West, Redwood and Mt. Whitney.

After Peltzer scored the game’s first goal with a smart skid shot under the goalkeeper’s outstretched arm, six different West players scored six straight goals, mostly on fast break counter-attacks. In all, nine of a possible 11 scored for the West.

Peltzer scored his second goal with five seconds remaining in the first quarter when Dinuba’s Justin-Lopez Lamb assisted him to the right wing for the last score of his career.

“That’s why I kinda wanted to try a little harder,” Peltzer said of playing in his last game.

The East squad was without one notable hole set who likely would’ve altered the score a little: Porterville’s Dakota Schieler, who opted not to play though he was invited.

“We missed him today,” Peltzer said. “He probably would’ve helped a little, but it’s OK. There weren’t any weak players on our team. It was nice.”

Peltzer, who was often the fastest in the pool during the regular season, showed off some of his speed as he beat his man numerous times, setting up himself and teammates for open looks.

But Lamb, the only dominant threat down low, was held in check as he scored just one goal. As a result, the East squad was forced to settle for plenty of outside shots.

That strategy was just fine for Exeter’s Michael Marinos, who scored both of his goals in the final period, including one at a sharp angle from the left side that ricocheted off the goalkeeper’s shoulder and into the net.

Unfortunately for Peltzer and the East, the West scored seven more goals in the final period, punishing the East for its slow start.

“For me, that’s been the way our team has been at Porterville all season — start slow and then pick it up,” said Peltzer, who has a standing offer to play water polo at Fresno Pacific.

Peltzer and Hanford’s Josh Ornellas were named the game’s MVPs.