HIGH SCHOOL LACROSSE

Arch rivals River Bluff and Lexington are enjoying historic boys’ lacrosse seasons.

The Gators improved to a season best 11-4 last Saturday, defeating Irmo 16-4 in The Swamp. Senior co-captain Kevin Flannery set a single-game record with 10 goals.

Meanwhile, the Lexington Wildcats are having their most successful season in 7 years. With 2 matches remaining, they can increase their win total to double digits.

If Lexington defeated Chapin Wednesday and Ir-mo Thursday, both matches on the road, the Wildcats and River Bluff will head into the April 10 season-finale with undefeated records in Region 5, District 3.

“Our April 10th game versus River Bluff is easily the biggest regular season game either program has ever played,” Lexington head coach Mark Piepoli said. “Not only is the region championship on the line, but so is the district.

“With the move to a district format for playoffs this season, playoff seeds are determined by your district standing and finish. The winner of that game will be the No. 1 seed in the Midlands district, but also the No. 1 overall seed in the lower state bracket.”

Both teams owe their success to having senior-laden talent in the program.

“A majority of these guys have now been playing together since they were in 7th grade,” Piepoli said. “Some I even coached back when they were in 5th grade

“Having that feel on the field and knowing where guys are going to be without having to look or worry, is an advantage.”

Said River Bluff head coach Gordie Howe, “I walked into a good group of kids and it was kind of easy to put everybody where they needed to be and bring it together.”

Howe came 2 years ago from A.C. Flora.

Howe points to team captains Flannery, Dillon Marchant, Nick Petta and goalkeeper Andrew Moss as invaluable.

Piepoli also points to leaders like Ryan Zuba, who’s returned from a torn ACL, Brian Guerra, midfielders Kyle Zuba and Jackson Brady and defensemen Tanner Lewis, senior Nathan Baxley and Jordan Boggs.

Both coaches see the April 10 showdown as a game to build on for the playoffs.

“If we go into Lexington with the momentum that we’ve been carrying into the final part of the season, I think the sky’s the limit for us,” Howe said.

“I expect the game to be close and hard fought,” Piepoli said. “These kids know each other well and have been battling on JV & Varsity for the last 4 seasons. We have been scouting each other all season so there isn’t much we are going to do that they haven’t already seen. It’s going to come down to who wants it more.

“It’s a great thing for lacrosse in Lexington with both teams playing well as we promote this great game to more people.”

“Expectations for the 5A playoffs are certainly high, especially with our success this season and how much trust I have in our senior class. They have been talking about making a run in the playoffs since they were in middle school and this seems to be the year.”