With a strong 9–3 league performance, the varsity boys water polo team is pushing hard for the league title. For those who haven’t yet caught a game, I highly recommend watching this fusion of basketball in the water on steroids!

Key Players & Roster Depth: Head Coach Seth Tasman’s roster hasn’t changed much, but the team has matured significantly this year. Right now, the boys’ excellent chemistry has led to them playing more cohesively than ever before. Captain senior Will O’Shaughnessy and standout scorers like juniors Benji Barkovich and Ferran De Witt lead the offensive charge, the latter two both varsity additions as freshmen.

Strategies & Game Plan: Los Altos thrives when executing high-pressure, hard-press defense. This aggressive one-on-one style forces opponents into mistakes, allowing the Eagles to capitalize on offensive fouls and steals. Defensively, junior Tiernan Braun is a key player, and when put in the set guard position (guarding the opposing team’s top offensive player), the team gains extra possessions, which leads to more scoring opportunities. His physical strength and defensive IQ are crucial in shutting down key threats. Another big part of the team is senior Weston Carballar, who’s having an incredible season in goal, coming in clutch in key games.

On the offensive end, the Eagles excel in dry passing—quick, catch-and-shoot opportunities that disrupt opposing defenses. When the ball is moving swiftly, they’re hard to stop. A focus on ball movement is important, particularly shifting the play to the 1-2 side (left side from the players’ perspective) since they’ve found better scoring opportunities that way. Players could also look to improve their court vision, finding the open man in transition for an easy shot. They’re a classic third-quarter team, averaging 4.3 goals in their best period to shift the game’s momentum in their favor. While the team’s offense is solid, they’ve occasionally been plagued by silly defensive ejections—moments of undisciplined play that have hurt them in critical games, including their loss to Los Gatos. Avoiding these lapses will be key if they hope to make a deep run.

Strengths:

• Press defense: Creates turnovers and limits opposing offenses.
• Third quarter dominance: Strong ability to adjust and rally after halftime.
• Team cohesion: Playing more as a unit this season, leading to smarter, more teamwork centric plays.

Weaknesses:

• • Slow starts: The Eagles need to avoid sluggish first quarters to compete against top-tier teams.
  • Undisciplined defensive plays: Ejections have cost them in close games, particularly against tough opponents like Los Gatos.

• Court vision: Easy scoring opportunities could be key in keeping up with tougher teams.

Looking Ahead: With 321 goals scored so far, Los Altos is a team that can score in bunches while playing solid defense. The Eagles’ consistent offense will be key to earning a CCS spot, and if they can tighten up their defense and avoid unnecessary ejections, a strong league finish is well within reach.