OIA basketball playoffs
By Pat Bigold
start, Kalaheo, Moanalua
top teams
Star-BulletinThe Oahu Interscholastic Association basketball championship playoffs will open tomorrow at the Kaiser and Waipahu gyms. But the OIA's only two unbeaten teams - teams considered state title contenders - won't be playing in the first round.
Western Division champion Moanalua (10-0), the defending state champion, and Eastern Division champion Kalaheo (9-0), the defending OIA champion, have both drawn a bye until Saturday.
Tomorrow at Kaiser, Campbell (6-4) plays Roosevelt (5-4) at 6 p.m. while Kaiser (7-2) meets Nanakuli (5-5) at 7:30 p.m. At Waipahu, McKinley (6-3) will play Radford (5-5) at 6 p.m. while Waipahu (7-3) faces Kaimuki (4-5) at 7:30 p.m.
On Saturday, the Menehunes play the winner of the McKinley-Radford game at Kahuku and the Mustangs take on the Campbell-Roosevelt winner at Kalaheo. Both games start at 7:30 p.m.
West runner-up Aiea (8-2) and East runner-up Kahuku (7-2) also draw a bye into Saturday's action.
All teams, including the division winners, will be battling for the five OIA berths in the Hawaiian Air/Hawaii High School Athletic Association Basketball Tournament, which begins Feb. 19.
The big two, Moanalua and Kalaheo, overcame major losses to graduation to once again dominate their divisions. Characterized by balance on offense, their critical players are in the backcourt.
At Moanalua, junior point guard Ramsey Williams is a slick ballhandler and dangerous shooter who draws double-teaming. Head coach Eddie Maruyama said that has worked to Moanalua's advantage this season as the team's low post players, 6-2 junior Brian Rosado-Galindo and 6-3 center Daniel Bruce, have been able to convert on Williams' heads-up passes to the inside.
"The posts score because teams have been keying in on Ramsey," said Maruyama.
At Kalaheo, there's the all-important backcourt tandem of Ikaika Furtado and Steve Hess - both seniors. Furtado is the aggressive point guard with a knack for finding the open man while Hess is the deadly outside shooter who can also maneuver to the hoop.
"We like to push it up," said Mustangs head coach Pete Smith. "And we've been scoring by committee this season."
Smith has worked 10 players into the scheme of things. Everyone, including 6-6 freshman Julian Sensley and 6-5 sophomore Ryan Hogue, has contributed. Kalaheo's depth is a key.
Iolani remains unbeaten
Star-Bulletin staffDerek Christensen scored 10 of his game-high 20 points in the fourth quarter as unbeaten Iolani defeated St. Louis, 44-38, last night at McCabe Gym in one of three Interscholastic League of Honolulu basketball games. The Raiders, who have already clinched the ILH title, improved to 11-0 with one game to go.
Iolani led, 28-23, entering the fourth quarter but Christensen's scoring burst iced it. He was 6-for-6 from the line in the quarter.
Kaweo Feeney led St. Louis (8-3) with 16 points while Brett Nakoa added 11.
Iolani 129716-44
St. Louis 671015-38
Iolani: D. Christensen 20, Ah Yat 8, Jackson 4, Vejio 4, Yasuhara 4, S. Christensen 4, Fuller 0, Kishinami 0.
St. Louis: Feeney 16, Nakoa 11, Dudley 7, Siofele 2, Thompson 2, Chang 0, Santos 0, Gesser 0, Loo 0, Mann 0, Vivas 0.
At Punahou, Scott Wong scored 18 points as the Buffanblu (9-2) eased past the Monarchs (0-12).
Punahou 61, Damien 47
Damien stayed within two points at the half (23-21), but seven Punahou players scored in a 23-11 third quarter that put the game away.
Damien was paced by Marco Agraan's game high 23 points, while Chad Leong added 10.
Damien 1381115-47
Punahou 13102315-61
Damien: Agraan 23, Leong 10, Yadao 7, Echavaria 2, Hanamaikai 2, Bagasani 2, Martin 1, Chun 0, Marumoto 0, Apao 0, Agustin 0, Bryant 0.
Punahou: Wong 18, Ichinose 9, Tauotaha 8, Brokaw 6, Brooks 7, Kim 4, Stietzel 4, Gilliam 4, Salter 1, Lam 0, Young 0.
At Klum Gym, the Junior Rainbows outscored the Warriors, 40-26, in the second half as 10 players scored for University High (5-6).
Elijah Neverdon scored all nine of his points in the second half, while Kainoa Morikami added seven of his nine.
Blane Ah San led the Junior Rainbows with 10 points. Imai Winchester 16 and Justin Takasaki 10 were in double figures for Kamehameha (4-7).
Kamehameha 1110719-47
University High12111525-63
Kamehameha: Winchester 16, Takasaki 10, Kanoa 7, Wise 6, Santos 2, Ordenstein 2, Huihui 2, Abreu 2, Hashimoto 0, Bello 0, Tano 0, Lee 0.
University High: Ah San 10, Morikami 9, Neverdon 9, Chan 7, Liu 7, Rose 6, Tassil 5, Penebacker 3, Cabacungan 2, Tokoro 2, D. Cambra 2, Fox 1, K. Cambra 0.
Outrigger Hotels and Resorts will sponsor both the boys' (Feb. 19-22) and girls' (Feb. 12-15) state soccer tournaments, according to Hawaii High School Athletic Association executive director Dwight Toyama. SOCCER SPONSOR
Toyama said that leaves only the state tennis and swimming championships without sponsors.
The OIA soccer playoffs continue tonight with girls' semifinals at Kailua High School. Pearl City plays Castle at 5:15 p.m. while Mililani meets on Kaiser at 7 p.m. OIA SOCCER PLAYOFFS
Last night, the Mililani and Kalaheo boys advanced to Saturday's championship game at Pearl City at 5:30 p.m. The girls' championship will follow at 7:30 p.m.
The OIA divisional wrestling tournaments will be held this weekend. WRESTLING TOURNAMENTS
On Friday at 5 p.m., the West meet will begin at Moanalua. It will continue at 1 p.m. Saturday.
That is why the Menehunes' basketball team loses home court advantage to start the playoffs.
The East championships begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at Kalaheo.
Pitcher Pomai Kapule and second baseman/shortstop Brandy Choy Foo of Kailua and outfielder Kristen Anderson of Mililani were chosen by Fast Pitch World magazine as High School All-American All-State selections. SOFTBALL PLAYERS HONORED
