The PAC-5 senior and Mililani sophomore were crucial in wins for their respective teams. CJ Caraang | SL

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Male Athlete of the Week: Laitin Bradley, PAC-5 football
When it comes to Laitin Bradley's value to the PAC-5 football team, Kip Botelho is clear and concise with his choice of words.

"He is the heart and soul of our team," said Botelho, the 15th-year coach of the Wolfpack.

The 5-foot-11, 195-pound Bradley is listed as a linebacker on the PAC-5 roster, but its just one of the multitude of positions he has played over the course of his three-year varsity career.

"We had him at wide receiver, we had him at running back, we even had a wildcat package with him at quarterback," Botelho said. "And we had the same plans for him this year."

As a junior in 2018, Bradley led the team in rushing attempts and was tied for first in scoring, but Botelho said the loss of three-year starting center Leif Fautanu, Jr. to graduation last spring led to an unlikely move for Bradley, who attends University Laboratory School.  

"Our number two center left school, so we came into the year without a center and had to find a center. We worked several guys, but we just didn't have any consistency there," Botelho said. "We had a kid there when we opened the season, but we had snap problems the first two games and we couldn't get the ball to the quarterback on time and once the snap is bad, (quarterback's) eyes are down and the timing of the play is off, so we had issues there and we had to come up with something quickly."

Enter Bradley.

"We always knew Laitin was talented and played a variety of positions so when we needed to find a center, he was the obvious choice," Botelho said.

Bradley played some offensive line as a freshman on the PAC-5 intermediate team, but worked his way into the team's top skill-position player by the start of the 2019 season.

"When he first came up to the varsity and we went into positions he went with the linemen; I was like, ‘what is he doing with the linemen?,' " Botelho recalled. "He's athletic, he's a stud, so I told him to go with the linebackers, but on our team everybody learns two positions — one offensive position, one defensive position — so on offense we went with the wide receivers and later we got him to running back and he was our leader there last year as a tailback and then when we needed plays on the outsides we'd put him at wideout, but he did play a little bit of line in the past, so he had that foundation and that's why he was the obvious choice."

The move itself, however, wasn't quite that simple as sacrifices would have to be made.

"We were gonna sacrifice a lot, but that's how important the center is. The question was how would he take it and he took it like a champ; basically he chose team over self," Botelho said. "He's the ultimate team player, he is our alpha wolf, I mean, he's the guy. On defense he's in the middle and the guys feed off of his play and then we're 5-1 with him at center, so that's how important he is to this football team."

Bradley, who has even seen time on the defensive line at nose guard this season, put together his best defensive performance over the weekend in the Wolfpack's 28-21 come-from-behind win over Pearl City. He posted a game-high 10 1/2 tackles, including nine solo stops and a sack. His first two tackles resulted in a six-yard loss and a one-yard loss on the second and third plays of the game Saturday.

"That's every game," Botelho said. "(Saturday) he was sideline to sideline and he'd go right from defense to offense. We had some assignment issues here and there and that's why it's so good that he covers for missed assignments. He covers other guys' mistakes and you wouldn't know it in a game, it just looks like he's making tackles, but a lot of it is covering."

During the third quarter, Bradley was briefly forced to the sidelines with a hand injury while the Wolfpack were on offense, but he returned after missing just two plays. The hand did not keep Bradley from making a key play on the other side of the ball early in the fourth quarter.

Pearl City held a 21-14 lead at the start of the final stanza and was in the midst of an 11-play drive that penetrated the PAC-5 28-yard line. However, one play after the Chargers converted a first down on a fourth-and-3, Bradley came down with an interception to return the possession to the Wolfpack, who did not get any points out of the takeaway but eventually scored two touchdowns in the final 92 seconds to complete the comeback.

"That was big," Botelho said of Bradley's pick, his second this season. "If we didn't get that, we probably don't win the game."Angelo Coluccio did a good job and tipped the pass and Laitin made a play on the ball and secured it and gave us a chance."

Bradley and the offensive line allowed just one sack of quarterback Chase Hedani, who passed for a season-high 298 yards and four touchdowns on 23-of-33 passing without an interception. The Wolfpack posted 366 yards of total offense, one yard short of their best single-game output this season to pick-up their fifth win in their last six games.

"I think this win, the way it happened, was probably the biggest thing for this team as far as lessons go," Botelho said. "One of the lessons we talked about was never quit because we were down early and our body language that whole first half was a downer and I don't know what it was but these guys were flat, and give Pearl City credit, they came out with a great game plan and their kids outplayed us basically."

Botelho said the halftime talk Saturday centered around flushing the half first and making the most of the second half.

"We got another opportunity, we had two quarters to get after it and they did, so I was proud of the fact that they didn't quit," said Botelho, who recalled the end-of-game atmosphere on the sideline.

"One of the things that stood out to me was the last two minutes, we got the ball back and we were down two scores and we're going into a two-minute offense now and I heard guys behind me saying, ‘we practice this every day, we got this!' and it was all positive comments all coming from the players," Botelho said. "That was a moment that made me proud to be their coach; there's no quit in these guys."

Bradley, who excels behind the plate as a catcher for PAC-5 during the baseball season, is one of 13 seniors who will play their final football game for the Wolfpack Friday, when it takes on McKinley at Roosevelt's Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium at 7:30 p.m.

Despite a 5-3 record, PAC-5 will have no choice but to watch the postseason from home as the Interscholastic League of Honolulu does not have a berth in the Division II state tournament.

"I'm proud of these guys. It didn't matter to them that we have no chance at a playoff, (but) playing the game does and playing it the right way does and that's why I'm so proud of these guys, especially the senior class. It's sad that this will be their last game and we have no chance at a playoff, but it is what it is and we're gonna embrace this last game and play hard."

Female Athlete of the Week: Aria Miller, Mililani volleyball
What Aria Miller lacks in stature, she makes up for with her prowess on the volleyball court.

The Mililani sophomore proved just that last week in a pair of sweeps to help the Trojans (10-0) complete an undefeated regular season.

Miller, a 5-foot-5 outside hitter, posted a match-high 13 digs, to go along with eight kills and six service aces in a 25-14, 25-8, 25-20 win at Campbell last Monday. Two days later, in a 25-13, 25-9, 25-21 win at Radford, she put down 13 kills and added seven digs, three aces and two set assists.

"She's a smart hitter," Trojans coach Val Crabbe said. "She's small in size, but she's just smart and she has good court vision."

For the season, Miller ranks second on the team in kills (92), third in digs (81) and first in aces (26). In fact, she is tops in the state in service aces.

"She jump serves, but she doesn't have a down-spin serve; it's more of a jump float, I guess," Crabbe said. "I think it's the trajectory of it that makes it tough; it's right over the net."

Miller has recorded an ace in four consecutive matches and had at least one in seven matches altogether this season. In all but one of those occassions she had multiple aces.

"Even if it's not an ace, she puts (the opposing team) out of system," Crabbe said. "She's good for a string of points. She can go back to the line and stay there for maybe three, four times — and that's pretty good — and of that she could get an ace in one of those, so her serving has been helpful."

Miller has recorded a pair of double-doubles this season. In a sweep of Waianae back on Sept. 11, she notched 10 kills, 12 digs and five aces. The following week, in a sweep of Kapolei on Sept. 16, Miller went for 15 kills, 13 digs and four aces.

"She has a lot of attacks and for all the attacks that she has, she gets kills, but she never had a lot of attack errors, so she might not get as many kills, but she also doesn't get as many errors, so she's just steady," Crabbe said.

However, it's Miller's defensive ability that is her biggest asset according to Crabbe — one that will help her reach the next level.

"Her serve-receiver is good, so I think she plays the back row as good as she plays the front," Crabbe said. "More and more colleges are looking at a lot of (high school) outside hitters as liberos now because they can pass and she can definitely pass."

As a freshman last year, Miller started at outside hitter and went on to earn All-Oahu Interscholastic Association Western Division Third Team recognition. Not much has changed about Miller since then, Crabbe said.

"Pretty know her, pretty much, but I think she's just a little bit more mature. There were moments at times I think last year where you could tell the youthfulness as far as handling the stress of it all, but I think the experience of it last year, she was able to build on it this year," Crabbe said.

The Trojans captured their third league title last season and went on to complete the season with a 15-1 record and a third-place finish in the state tournament.

Among those that return from that squad along with Miller, are her older sister, Aysia, and fellow senior Falanika Danielson.

Aysia Miller, a 5-foot-9 setter and opposite hitter, and Danielson, a 5-foot-6 outside hitter, are the unquestioned leaders of this year's team — one that has gone beyond three sets just once this season.

"We're going to lose two big people; they've been starters — Aysia and Nika — for several years now and their presence is definitely going to be missed, most definitely," Crabbe said.

The cohesion between the Miller sisters is reflected both on and off the court, Crabbe noted.

"They're close, they're definitely close, but they're sisters, you know? They get along and I think the bigger part is that they get along when they're playing. There's sometimes you get sisters and one is playing and the other is not and at home it's not good, but those two come to the gym together, they leave together, they're definitely close," Crabbe said.

Aysia Miller was an All-Hawaii second team pick in 2018.

Aria Miller has also benefitted from playing alongside Danielson, the reigning All-OIA West Player of the Year and a First Team All-Hawaii selection last year.

"I think there's a big respect for each other," Crabbe said of the pair. "The other part is I think where some of the respect comes to is it starts from the pass — because they're both really good at that — and they're able to get what they get (as far as kills) because of the pass, so I think there's just more of a respect for each other and they like each other and they each know their roles, so that's very helpful."

If there's one area that Crabbe hopes to see improvement in Miller's repertoire is at the net.

"I just need her to block," Crabbe said. "But Aria still has two years to work the blocking part of her game and she knows it."

Miller and the Trojans are the top seed out of the West in the 12-team OIA D1 tournament, which gets underway Wednesday. They will host the winner of the Aiea-Kaiser first-round match in the second game of a quarterfinal doubleheader Thursday.

East second-seed Kahuku will play either Roosevelt or Waianae in the early match at 5:30 p.m.

In the top half of the bracket, West No. 2 seed Kapolei will take on the Leilehua-Farrington winner at 5:30 p.m. and East top seed Moanalua will meet either Kalaheo or Nanakuli in the late match of the doubleheader. Both matches will take place at Moanalua.

The quarterfinal winners will punch their ticket to the state tournament and advance to next week Monday's semifinal round at McKinley's Student Council Gymnasium.

FOOTBALL
Zion Ah You, Kahuku — Had 6 1/2 tackles and three sacks in a loss to Punahou

Kaeo Akana, Roosevelt — Had 5 1/2 tackles, including four for losses and three sacks, and forced a fumble in a win over Kalaheo

Elijah Apao, Hilo — Had four tackles, including two TFLs, forced a fumble and scored on a 20-yard fumble return in a win over Honokaa

Naomas Asuega-Fualaau, Kaimuki — Rushed 15 times for 159 yards and three touchdowns in a win over McKinley

Laitin Bradley, PAC-5 — Had 10 1/2 tackles, including two TFLs and one sack, and intercepted a pass in a win over Pearl City

Mitchel Camacho, Roosevelt — Rushed 13 times for 120 yards and a touchdown in a win over Kalaheo

Duncan Castro, Keaau — Rushed 17 times for 108 yards in a loss to Kealakehe

Jonah Chong, Iolani — Threw for 255 yards and three touchdowns on 22-of-37 passing with one interception in a loss to Leilehua

Kawika Clemente, Kamehameha — Rushed for a touchdown and caught a scoring pass in a win over Waianae

Samson Cook, Waianae — Had nine tackles and a pass break-up in a loss to Kamehameha

Kala Estocado-Matthews, Castle — Rushed 28 times for 174 yards and three touchdowns in a loss to Kailua

Cameron Friel, Kailua — Threw for 100 yards and three touchdowns on 13-of-21 passing with one interception in a win over Castle

Joshua Gleason, Pearl City — Caught six passes for 113 yards and a touchdown in a loss to PAC-5

Chase Hedani, PAC-5 — Threw for 298 yards and four touchdowns on 23-of-33 passing without an interception in a win over Pearl City

Nicholas Herbig, Saint Louis — Had 3 1/2 sacks in a win over Farrington

RJ Javar, Moanalua — Threw for 304 yards and four touchdowns on 27-of-42 passing without an interceptions in a win over Radford

Jonathan Jenkins, Radford — Scored on a 25-yard blocked punt return in a loss to Moanalua

Kapunahoa Kaeo, Kekaulike — Scored on a 26-yard interception return in a win over Maui

Elijah Kahele, Kealakehe — Rushed 15 times for 169 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Keaau

Umikoa Kealoha, Hawaii Prep — Threw for 179 yards and five touchdowns on 8-of-11 passing without an interception and rushed for 71 yards in a win over Pahoa

Paul Kim, Kalani — Had two sacks in a loss to Waialua

Kali Kuhaulua, Kekaulike — Rushed 26 times for 165 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Maui

Myka Kukahiwa, Roosevelt — Rushed for three touchdowns in a win over Kalaheo

Micah Lilo, Kamehameha — Had nine tackles and a pass break-up in a win over Waianae

Justin Lina, Hawaii Prep — Scored on a 50-yard punt return in a win over Pahoa

Sione Lolohea, Maui — Caught a 65-yard touchdown pass and scored on a 12-yard fumble return in a loss to Kekaulike

Dayne Maeva, Kamehameha — Had 9 1/2 tackles, including one TFL, and broke-up two passes in a win over Waianae

Jayden Maiava, Kaimuki — Threw for 283 yards and two touchdowns on 14-of-18 passing without an interception and rushed for another score in a win over McKinley

Wailoa Manuel, Iolani — Caught 10 passes for 118 yards in a loss to Leilehua

David Martinez, Pahoa — Rushed nine times for 145 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Hawaii Prep

Caleb Matagi, Farrington — Had 2 1/2 sacks in a loss to Saint Louis

Zealand Matagi, Kahuku — Rushed 28 times for 116 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Punahou

Renzo Mendoza, Maui — Rushed 18 times for 120 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Kekaulike

Kyan Miyasato, Hilo — Threw for 174 yards and three touchdowns on 7-of-10 passing without an interceptions in a win over Honokaa

Shayden Molina, Iolani — Had 11 tackles, including two TFLs, and broke-up a pass in a loss to Iolani

Jarvis Natividad, Damien — Caught two touchdown passes and scored on a 90-yard kickoff return in a win over Aiea

Guyson Ogata, Hilo — Had 170 all-purpose yards, including 90 receiving yards and two touchdowns on four receptions and scored on a 60-yard punt return in a win over Honokaa

Jonah Ottenbacher, Kalani — Scored on a 17-yard interception return in a loss to Waialua

Gabriel Parrish, Pearl City — Had 5 1/2 tackles and scored on a 80-yard fumble return in a loss to PAC-5

Karsyn Pupunu, Kamehameha-Maui — Caught five passes for 117 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Lahainaluna

Storm Quilinderino, Waialua — Rushed 18 times for 108 yards and a touchdown in a win over Kalani

Alvin Quisquirin-Sabagala, Waianae — Rushed 47 times for 245 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Kamehameha

Jayzon Ramos, Leilehua — Had 179 all-purpose yards, including six receptions for 134 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Iolani

Samson Rasay, Kailua — Rushed 25 times for 190 yards with a touchdown and caught a TD pass in a win over Castle

John-Keawe Sagapolutele, Punahou — Threw for 271 yards and two touchdowns on 16-of-23 passing with one interception in a win over Kahuku

Spencer Salcedo, Kamehameha — Had 7 1/2 tackles, including one sack, and forced a fumble in a win over Waianae

Lyle Silva, Hilo — Had 6 1/2 tackles, including 2 1/2 TFLs, two sacks, and forced two fumbles in a win over Honokaa

De'Zhaun Stribling, Kapolei — Caught eight passes for 126 yards in a loss to Mililani

Aperamo Sulu, Damien — Rushed 15 times for 176 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Aiea

Matthew Sykes, Saint Louis — Caught five passes for 159 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Farrington

Koby Tabuyo-Kahele, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Threw for 162 yards and three touchdowns on 8-of-10 passing without an interception in a win over Kau

Brannon Tanaka, Kaiser — Had two sacks in a win over Nanakuli

Vincent Terrell, Punahou — Had 176 all-purpose yards with 83 rushing yards and a touchdown and 86 receiving yards and another score in a win over Kahuku

Joshua Tihada, Lahainaluna — Rushed 37 times for 292 yards with three touchdowns and threw a TD pass in a win over Kamehameha-Maui

Kekoa Turangan, Leilehua — Threw for 268 yards and four touchdowns on 23-of-39 passing with one interception in a win over Iolani

Jamil Vereen, Leilehua — Rushed 26 times for 139 yards in a win over Iolani

Gabe West, Radford — Had two sacks in a loss to Moanalua

Zion Williams, McKinley — Scored on a 95-yard kickoff return in a loss to Kaimuki

Dylan Yadao, Waialua — Scored on a 5-yard blocked punt return in a win over Kalani

Easton Yoshino, Kaiser — Threw for 294 yards and four touchdowns on 16-of-23 passing with two interceptions in a win over Nanakuli

Mason Yoshinom, Kaiser — Caught eight passes for 146 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Nanakuli

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Gabby Canionero, Waianae — Had 42 assist, three block assists, two kills and two aces in a four-set win over Aiea and had 37 assists, nine digs, three kills, one ace and a block assist in a five-set win over Campbell

Falanika Danielson, Mililani — Had 16 kills, five digs, two aces and a block assist in a three-set win over Campbell and had eight kills, 14 digs, two aces and a solo block in a three-set win over Radford

Serenity Feleti, Radford — Had 10 kills, two solo blocks, one block assist and an ace in a four-set win over Waipahu

Makayla Fonoimoana-Vaomu, Kahuku — Had 11 kills in a three-set win over Kaiser

Kalei Irvine, Waianae — Had 11 kills, two block assists and one solo block in a four-set win over Aiea and had 14 kills, one solo block and a block assist in a five-set win over Campbell

Jahnay Jardine, Waianae — Had 12 kills, one solo block and an ace in a four-set win over Aiea and had 10 kills, 11 digs, one ace and an assist in a five-set win over Campbell

I'esha Jones, Campbell — Had 11 digs, four kills and two aces in a five-set loss to Waianae

Keau Kamakeeaina, Kahuku — Had 34 assists, four kills, two block assists and an ace in a three-set win over Kaiser

Alexis Kepa, Kapolei — Had 26 assists, five digs, two kills, two aces and a solo block in a three-set win over Leilehua and had 33 assists, two kills and two digs in a three-set win over Pearl City

Shania Kepoo-Caspino, Waianae — Had 17 kills in a four-set win over Aiea and had 12 kills, five digs, one block assist, an ace and an assist in a five-set win over Campbell

Kassia Lee, Aiea — Had 26 digs, five assists and two aces in a four-set loss to Waianae

Kawehi Marinas, Kapolei — Had 12 kills, seven digs, one ace and an assist in a three-set win over Leilehua

Aysia Miller, Mililani — Had 27 assists, six digs, three kills, one solo block and a block assist in a three-set win over Campbell and had 26 assists, nine digs, two kills and a block assist in a three-set win over Radford

Kelsie Nakashima, Aiea — Had 35 assist, seven digs, three kills and a block assist in a four-set loss to Waianae and had 29 assists, 16 digs, four aces and three kills in a five-set loss to Leilehua

Megan Nishimura, Iolani — Had 14 kills, two assists and one ace in a three-set win over Kamehameha

Elena Oglivie, Iolani — Had 18 kills, 10 digs, two aces and a block assist in a three-set win over Kamehameha

Savannah Pilialoha, Waipahu — Had 15 kills and four aces in a four-set loss to Radford

Tyla Reese Mane, Aiea — Had 12 kills, two digs and two block assists in a five-set loss to Leilehua

Rebecca Sakoda, Iolani — Had 13 digs, nine kills, three aces and a block assist in a three-set win over Kamehameha

Manu Seei, Radford — Had 34 assists, two aces, one kill and a block assist in a four-set win over Waipahu

Nikki Shimao, Iolani — Had 10 digs in a three-set win over Kamehameha

Toodie Sopi, Kapolei — Had 11 kills, eight digs and one assist in a three-set win over Leilehua

Precious Tauanuu, Aiea — Had 19 kills, 13 digs and an ace in a four-set loss to Waianae and had 12 kills, six digs and two aces in a five-set loss to Leilehua

Mokihana Tufono, Iolani — Had 39 assists, six digs and two kills in a three-set win over Kamehameha

Chevy Wagner, Waianae — Had 25 digs and an assist in a five-set win over Campbell

Autumn Williams, Aiea — Had 13 kills, four digs, one block assist and an ace in a four-set loss to Waianae and had 14 digs and five kills in a five-set loss to Leilehua