March 19, 2015 Page 5 Lawndale Bounces Back with Regional Routs By Joe Snyder Photos by Joe Snyder A week after Lawndale High’s boys’ basketball team blew a 28-point lead late in the third quarter and lost the CIF-Southern Section championship to Anaheim Canyon 103-98 in double overtime on March 7 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, the Cardinals regrouped and recorded two easy wins over Van Nuys Grant and Redlands East Valley in the Southern California Regional Division II playoffs last week at Lawndale. Against Grant, the CIF-Los Angeles City Division II runner-up, Lawndale had little trouble in an 87-45 victory. Against East Valley, the Southern Section Division IIA finalist that fell to Compton, the Cardinals shut out the Wildcats 14-0 in the fourth quarter for a 75-50 win. Lawndale, which began the tournament as the fourth seed, traveled to top seed La Costa Canyon in Carlsbad, a CIF-San Diego Section Open Division team that moved down to Division II in the regional semifinalist last Tuesday. If the Cardinals win, they will face the winner of Tuesday’s other semifinal between Compton and La Mirada for the Division II championship and a right to play for the California State Division II title at University of California in Berkeley at the Cal State Long Beach Pyramid Saturday at noon. So far, Lawndale fixed itself well after that disastrous game against Canyon on March 7. Last Saturday, the Cardinals led East Valley throughout most of the three quarters with their biggest being 17. The Wildcats, though, made some threats and got as close as seven points late in the third period, much due to the hot threepoint shooting of Alexious Ziska, who led East Valley with 19 points that included six three-point baskets. Four of those came in the third quarter. In the fourth period, Lawndale’s defense stiffened as it constantly clamped down on the Wildcats that resulted into holding them scoreless. “We had some nightmares but this time I was more clear,” Lawndale head coach Chris Brownlee said. “We needed to finish. Unfortunately last week, we didn’t. We put it behind. We have to earn it next week. La Costa Canyon’s a good team. We’re going to keep working for it.” Chimezie Metu led the Cardinals (22-11) with a game-high 20 points and 12 rebounds. Among those for the six-foot-10 University of Southern California-bound senior was several spectacular dunks. Lawndale’s other six-foot-10 player, San Diego State Universitybound senior Brodricks Jones, added 14 points. Quincy Pinkard chipped in 12 points and Deandre Snedecor contributed 11. The game started more than an hour later than its original 6 p.m. time due to East Valley’s team bus breaking down in Ontario. The Cardinals were led by Jones with 17 points, 10 rebounds and four steals in their win over Grant. Tedric Johnson finished with 15 points and Snedecor had 13 points. Hawthorne Sweeps Lawndale After not fielding boys’ volleyball over the past several years, the sport finally returned to Hawthorne. In an Ocean League match last Thursday at Lawndale, the Cougars swept the Cardinals 25-21, 25-15, 25-18. Hawthorne, which improved to 1-1 overall and 1-0 in league, was led by junior outside hitter John Lozano with 13 kills. Senior setter Mark Chishson and sophomore outside hitter Jody Ryan also had good games, according to Cougar assistant coach Yuri Najarro, who is also Hawthorne’s head boys’ soccer coach. “We’re hoping to be able to win games and not get blown out,” Najarro said. Lawndale fell to 0-5. Both teams are in the Ocean League as they will face top contenders El Segundo, Culver City and Santa Monica. Cardinals Edge LACES Lawndale High’s baseball team improved to 2-4 with a 4-3 win over Los Angeles Center of Enriched Studies in a Southern California Invitational game last Thursday at Lawndale. Armando Hernandez had a tworun single for the Cardinals. Tyler Bonsky singled, scored and drove in a run. Miguel Osorio had a hit and scored. Lawndale moves from the Pioneer to the Ocean but head coach Jeff Prihold feels it will be tough. “We’re in a tough league,” Prihold said. “We have tough games. We must be ready to go. We’re hoping that our pitching will hold up.” Among the teams in league the Cardinals are with include El Segundo, who most observers feel will be the league favorite. The Eagles are led by USC-bound Lars Nootbar. Culver City and Santa Monica, which advanced to the CIF-Southern Section Division III semifinals before losing to Palm Desert last season, are other top contenders. After visiting former Pioneer League rival North Torrance Tuesday, Lawndale will host the Saxons in non-league play today at 3:15 p.m. Lawndale, then, will have a pair of non-league games against cross town rival Leuzinger. The Cardinals host the Olympians next Tuesday at 3:15 p.m. then visit Leuzinger next Thursday at the same time.• Lawndale’s Brandon Newman attempts a jumper from the front of the key in last Saturday’s Southern California Regional Division II quarterfinal against Redlands East Valley. The Cardinals advanced to the semifinals at La Costa Canyon in Carlsbad last Tuesday in quest of making the regional finals Saturday at noon at the Cal State Long Beach Pyramid. Hawthorne’s Nicolas Fernandez serves the ball in last Thursday’s Ocean League boys’ volleyball match against Lawndale. The Cougars swept the Cardinals. Lawndale High’s Chimezie Metu prepares for a dunk in last Saturday’s Southern California Regional Division II boys’ basketball game against Redlands East Valley. The Cardinals defeated the Wildcats 75-50. Lawndale pitcher Migual Osorio throws to a LACES batter during last Thursday’s Southern California Invitaitonal baseball game. The Cardinals won 4-3. Lawndale hosts North Torrance today at 3:15 p.m.
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