By Jason W. Brooks
Mail | X: @JasonWBrooks2

QUEEN CREEK — The Cactus Cobras rallied and kept all three games close in their May 3 first-round 4A state matchup against the Benjamin Franklin Chargers.

But the hosts were just slightly stronger in all three games. The Chargers ended Cactus’ season with a 27-25, 25-20, 25-22 decision.

Cactus senior Bradey Henige, right, battles Benjamin Franklin’s Joshua Williams for a 50-50 ball in the Cobras’ first-round 4A state tournament loss May 3 in Queen Creek.

Independent Newsmedia/Jason W. Brooks

No. 8 seed Franklin (16-3) advanced to face No. 1 Northwest Christian, while the No. 9-seed Cobras’ season ended with an 11-7 mark.

“Our guys go all-out, and their effort was never a question,” Cactus coach Jana Henige said. “There were some questionable calls on some things, but the effort was always there.”

The match marked the end of the careers of Cactus seniors Bradey Henige, Braiden Lagafuaina and Josiah Hyslip. 

“Our seniors do a great job of keeping everybody level-headed,” Coach Henige said. “They turn setbacks into passion, rather than let it take them out of their game.”

Senior leadership helped the Cobras go on a 7-0 run in the first game against Franklin, leading 19-16 and 24-22, and 25-24 before losing the final three points of the game.

The second game wasn’t as close toward the end, with the Cobras’ 24-18 deficit being the largest of the match. The teams traded points early until Franklin quickly turned a 12-12 tie into a 17-13 lead.
Cactus rallied in the third and final game, tying it at 22 despite having trailed 18-13. That’s when three solid serves and hitting through the Cobras’ high-blocking arms closed the door with three straight kills.

“They’re one of the tallest teams we’ve faced, and not just because they have a 7-footer (Bradey Henige) Franklin coach Kris Maglunog said. “We worked this week on being courageous and hitting through blocks. We knew we couldn’t hit around them.”

Bradey Henige had 14 kills and an ace against Franklin. Tommy Henige had 16 kills and three aces. Hyslip added six blocks.

The young Cobras lineup seemed to struggle with communication and court awareness at times.

Coach Henige said he knows his two freshman in the regular rotation — outside hitter Tommy Henige and libero Vinnie Vitale — learned a great deal this season from upperclassmen. 

“Tommy and Vinnie took great lessons from our seniors this year in how to be and where to be, in certain situations.”

Cactus senior Braiden Lagafuaina, right, hits past Benjamin Franklin’s Will Nelson in the Cobras’ first-round 4A state tournament loss May 3 in Queen Creek.

Independent Newsmedia/Jason W. Brooks

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Jason W. Brooks
News Editor | Chandler Independent

Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.

Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.

Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.

Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.

Community: He supports animal shelters.