DIVISION I BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Lawson comes through for Iolani
By Fred Guzman
Special to the Star-Bulletin
PUKALANI, Maui » It's an open secret that, as Brad Lawson goes, so go the fortunes of the Iolani boys volleyball team.
Division I
Seeds: 1. Punahou; 2. Kamehameha-Hawaii; 3. Waianae; 4. Kamehameha-Maui
Yesterday
King Kekaulike Bracket
Game 1: Roosevelt def. Waiakea 25-16, 25-22
2: Lahainaluna def. Kalaheo 25-18, 20-25, 25-23
Kamehameha-Maui Bracket
3: Iolani def. Mililani 25-16, 25-21
4: Kamehameha def. Pearl City 25-23, 25-21
Today
King Kekaulike Bracket
5: Punahou vs. Lahainaluna, 5:30 p.m.
6: Kamehameha-Maui vs. Roosevelt, 7 p.m.
9: Waiakea vs. Kalaheo (consolation), 4 p.m.
Kamehameha-Maui Bracket
7: Kamehameha-Hawaii vs. Kamehameha, 5:30 p.m.
8: Waianae vs. Iolani, 7 p.m.
10: Mililani vs. Pearl City (consolation), 4 p.m.
Tomorrow
King Kekaulike Bracket
11: Game 5 & 6 losers (consolation), 5:30 p.m.
13: Game 5 & 6 winners, 7 p.m.
Kamehameha-Maui Bracket
12: Game 7 & 8 losers (consolation), 5:30 p.m.
14: Game 7 & 8 winners, 7 p.m.
Division II
Seeds: 1. Hawaii Baptist; 2. Seabury Hall; 3. Hilo; 4. Campbell
Yesterday
Radford Bracket
Game 1: Pahoa def. Hana 25-19, 25-19
2: Honokaa def. Kahuku 25-16, 18-25, 25-15
Farrington Bracket
3: Hawaii Prep def. Kaimuki 25-14, 19-25, 25-8
4: Waimea def. Nanakuli 25-19, 25-13
Today
Radford Bracket
5: Campbell vs. Pahoa, 6 p.m.
6: Hawaii Baptist vs. Honokaa, 7:30 p.m.
9: Hana vs. Kahuku (consolation), 4:30 p.m.
Farrington Bracket
7: Hilo vs. Waimea, 6 p.m.
8: Seabury Hall vs. Hawaii Prep, 7:30 p.m.
10: Kaimuki vs. Nanakuli (consolation), 4:30 p.m.
Tomorrow
Radford Bracket
11: Game 5 & 6 losers (consolation), 6 p.m.
13: Game 5 & 6 winners, 7:30 p.m.
Farrington Bracket
12: Game 7 & 8 losers (consolation), 6 p.m.
14: Game 7 & 8 winners, 7:30 p.m.
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So, it was hardly surprising that the Stanford-bound senior led the Raiders to a 25-16, 25-21 sweep of Mililani last night in the first round of the state Division I tournament at the Kamehameha-Maui gym.
Or that, when things got a bit dicey for Iolani in the second game, the 6-foot-7 Lawson delivered 11 of his 18 thundering kills to dash Mililani's comeback hopes.
The victory earned the Raiders a berth in today's 7 p.m. quarterfinal match against third-seeded Waianae. The Seariders are coming off an emotional run to the Oahu Interscholastic Association title at the expense of previously unbeaten Roosevelt.
"Brad is a big part of our offense," Iolani coach Mike Among said. "He's our best hitter, our best passer and an outstanding senior captain. But we know and Brad knows he can't do it by himself.
"To be successful, we have to look to other players. We can't rely totally on Brad. That's exactly what happened in some of our losses during the regular season. We relied on him too much and we became predictable."
Particularly painful for both coach and star player are the recent memories of regular-season-ending setbacks to Interscholastic League of Honolulu rivals Mid-Pacific and Kamehameha, when opposing blockers ganged up on Lawson with positive results.
"We have to get everyone involved," Lawson agreed. "I know there are situations when I have to hit. But there are also times when I'm not hitting the ball well or other players are in a better position that those sets have to go to them instead."
Last night, others made significant contributions to Iolani's cause, as freshman setter Logan Nowack spread the offense around to include 6-5 junior left-hander Taylor Donovan and 6-1 junior Nick Christman.
But when the game was on the line and Mililani was bidding to get back into contention by closing to within 10-9 behind 6-5 Reid Pangelinan and 6-3 middle Warren Duke, the Raiders went to their money man to secure the victory.
Lawson didn't disappoint, accounting for eight of his team's final 15 points with seven kills and one solo block.
"We did some very good things in the first game, but we had the proverbial letdown in the second," noted Among, crediting Mililani with making some good adjustments between games.
"We had some problems with that in the past, locking in and focusing for a whole match. Game 1, we were there. Game 2, we were not," added Among, attributing the team's inconsistency to having a lot of first-year varsity players in starting roles. "With each round, the teams get better and better.
"And you don't survive if you don't play a complete match."
Three other first-round matches were played yesterday.
Kamehameha defeated Pearl City 25-23, 25-21. That sets up a 5:30 p.m. match today between Kamehameha and Kamehameha-Hawaii at, fittingly, Kamehameha-Maui.
The most dramatic match of the night took place at the neighboring King Kekaulike gym. Lahainaluna defeated Kalaheo 25-18, 20-25, 25-23 and will play top-seeded Punahou at 5:30 p.m. today.
OIA runner-up Roosevelt opened with a 25-16, 25-21 victory over Waiakea. The Rough Riders will face fourth-seeded Kamehameha-Maui at 7 p.m. today.