Lakewood Rallies Behind Lewis

Steve Lewis was too weak to join the celebration Saturday night, but nothing could wipe away his smile. The Lakewood girls’ volleyball team had just advanced to its first Southern Section semifinal since 1982 with a thrilling 25-16, 22-25, 22-25, 25-21, 15-11 victory over visiting Valencia and Lewis, who has coached the Lancers the last seven years, remained in his chair alongside the bench.

Lewis, 51, was diagnosed with liver cancer last winter and began radiation treatments this week that have further weakened his body. He arrived midway through the second game of the Division I-AA quarterfinal, after fourth-seeded Lakewood had taken a one-game lead, then watched the Lancers drop the next two before rallying.

“I’m impressed,” Lewis said. “If they’re fortunate and they play the way they did tonight, that’s all we want is a chance. We don’t want anything given to us from anyone.”

Wearing red-and-black warm-ups bearing Lakewood’s school colors and an Anaheim Angel cap, he used a cane to make the crossover between games, taking in some advice from co-coach Mike Wadley before the final game. When Cassie Chamberlain landed a kill to earn the final point of the match, Wadley turned to Lewis and hugged him for several seconds. After shaking hands with the opponents, several Lakewood players hurried over to bump knuckles with Lewis.

“He knew this was the year it was going to happen,” said Chamberlain, who had a match-high 24 kills. “Most of this is because of what he has done for us. He has taught us how to be a good person inside, a good daughter and a good student.”

Lakewood has rallied behind Lewis as well. More than 500 students, teachers and former players showed up Nov. 1 at Lakewood to pay tribute to Lewis and help raise money for cancer research. Among the people in attendance was Lewis’ son, Chris, a former Long Beach Poly and Stanford quarterback who now plays for the Arizona Cardinals. His daughter, Robin, is currently a setter for Stanford.

“I think we’re all playing for him in our hearts,” said Chamberlain, who has committed to Pepperdine. “It’s like the little ‘Uumph’ behind you, kicking you in the [behind] when it’s not there verbally.”

With Lewis ailing, Lakewood (22-11) dropped four of its first six matches. “We had a real slow start,” Wadley said. “The kids had trouble adjusting.”

The Lancers will play defending champion and top-seeded Los Alamitos (25-4) on Tuesday in a semifinal.

-- Dan Arritt

Football

Los Angeles Dorsey drew the top seeding for City Section football playoffs, which begin Thursday. The Coliseum League champion Dons (9-1) will play host to San Pedro (6-4) in the first round.

West Valley League champion Woodland Hills Taft (9-1) was seeded second, followed by defending champion Carson (6-4), Western League champion Venice (8-2) and Coliseum League runner-up L.A. Crenshaw (8-2). Sixth-seeded Harbor City Narbonne (8-2), seventh-seeded Lake Balboa Birmingham (6-4) and eighth-seeded Sylmar (8-2) also will play host to first-round games.

Eastern League champion Huntington Park (9-1) was seeded first in the Invitational division, followed by Sunset Six League champion North Hollywood (7-3), Western League runner-up L.A. Fairfax (5-5) and Granada Hills Kennedy (3-7), the third-place team from the Valley Mission League.

-- Steve Galluzzo