Wednesday, May 7, 2003 | 8:51 a.m.
Devin Busby learned an important lesson the hard way in last year's Sunrise Region boys' volleyball playoffs, when his Las Vegas squad lost in the semifinals to state champion Basic.
"There's playoff players, and then there's regular-season players," Busby said. "I just tried to prove that I'm a playoff player -- make big plays in big situations."
The Wildcats' senior middle blocker earned the "playoff player" title Tuesday night at Chaparral, where Las Vegas (NE-2) outlasted Foothill (SE-3), 23-25, 27-25, 25-18, 25-23 to move into Thursday's region semifinals.
Busby totaled 15 kills and 13 blocks, and the Falcons never found a way to slow Busby, a powerful hitter with the high arm swing.
"We've tried to incorporate him all year," Wildcats coach Norm Smith said. "He's been a major part of the team. He's become an all-around player. When we need him, he takes it upon himself to do it."
Busby took charge midway through the third game, when it appeared Las Vegas might fall behind two games to one. Trailing 17-12 in the third, Busby and setter Jayson Gifford (36 assists, 12 blocks) sparked the Wildcats to a 10-0 run that seized control of the game and the match.
"All year, we showed a lot of heart," Busby said. "That's exactly what we did at the end of that game. We just started doing the things we do well. We stopped making stupid mistakes."
The Wildcats proved to be resilient throughout the match. In the second game, Las Vegas fought off three game points before winning it, and it fought off a Foothill charge in the final game.
"My two seniors, they were in this situation last year," Smith said. "They know how to remain calm and they were able to lead us. We find ways to win."
Foothill's Jake Lamb put on a gutsy 19-kill, 12-dig performance, but the Falcons could not put away Las Vegas when they had the Wildcats down.
"When we get down, this team doesn't fold," Busby said.
The remainder of the Sunrise quarterfinals held true to form. Northeast top seed Chaparral rolled through Southeast fourth seed Basic, 25-13, 25-13, 25-17; Green Valley (SE-2) handled Rancho (NE-3), 25-21, 25-12, 25-15; and Silverado (SE-1) downed Eldorado (NE-4), 25-15, 25-9, 25-19.
The Sunset Region quarterfinals get under way today at 3 p.m. at Chaparral. Both regions will be Thursday at Chaparral.
The Gaels edged Palo Verde, 385-388, to claim the team crown, and senior Robert Massi shot an even-par 72 to hold off Bonanza's Aaron Slonim by one stroke for the individual medal.
Bonanza earned the Sunset's third berth to next week's 4A State Tournament in Sparks by shooting 397, with Centennial coming in fourth at 419.
The top five individual finishers (and ties) that did not qualify with their team also advance to state. Sierra Vista's Tatsuro Oshimoto and Durango's Richard McIntosh led that group at 79, Mojave's Jeremy Meeter shot 81 and Centennial's Daryn Hayden and Erik Snare and Durango's Joe Wattoo shot 82 to earn trips to Sparks.
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