Tuesday, February 17, 1998

The state boys basketball tournament
begins tomorrow with four
preliminary games

By Pat Bigold
Star-Bulletin

Iolani will be the top seed when the 42nd Hawaii High School Athletic Association boys' basketball tournament opens tomorrow.

Two games will be played at McCabe Gym and two at McKinley High School in the preliminary round.

The tournament shifts to the Blaisdell Arena Thursday through Saturday for the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals.

The Raiders (11-1 in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu) lost a 58-57 decision to Moanalua in the state title game last year, but captured the ILH title this season.

Iolani, No. 2 seed Kalaheo (12-0 in the Oahu Interscholastic Association's East Division), No. 3 seed Waiakea (11-2 in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation) and No. 4 seed Maui (12-1 in the Maui Interscholastic League) all receive byes into the quarterfinals.

Iolani will go with the same well-conditioned starting five that has carried the team all year: 6-foot-4 twins Brad and Cord Anderson, 6-7 Shawn Christensen, 5-9 all-state guard Kirk Uejio and poised playmaker Doug Jackson.

Though basically five deep, they have shown a knack for being even more dangerous late in games. Christensen and the Anderson twins all can play above the rim and Uejio is famous for his take-no-prisoners style of play on defense.

Kalaheo, the OIA champion, might be the deepest team in the tournament. The Mustangs have size up front and firepower on the perimeter.

Julian Sensley, a 6-7 sophomore, is the OIA East's player of the year and one of the state's top post players. The Mustangs also have 6-5 Ryan Hogue and 6-5 Josh Rust.

Long-range threats are OIA East Division first-team all-star Levon Freeman and Kaimana Freitas.

Waiakea, which beat Hilo, 71-63, last night to snap the Vikings' eight-year Big Island Interscholastic Federation title streak, is led by its 6-4 big men, Kyle Barthol-omew and Cameron Cuarisma.

Maui High's top player is 5-9 senior guard Scott Prather, a quality shooter from the outside. He gets support from 6-1 Ikaika Wood, a rugged inside man, and 6-4 swing man Byron Souza.

The most celebrated unseeded team is two-time defending champion Moanalua (12-1, OIA East), led by guard Ramsey Williams.

Williams, the Star-Bulletin's reigning Mr. Basketball, has a talent for shaking his defender and has been a dangerous shooter the past two postseasons.

Most of the state championship lineup remains. Brian Rosado-Galindo, a 6-1 first-team OIA West Division all-star, second-teamer Marvin Santiago and tough inside man Ricky Marshall-Greene provide a solid nucleus.

St. Louis (11-3, ILH) and Kalaheo have a history together this season -- the Crusaders beat the Mustangs twice in the nonconference season. The two could meet again in the semifinals.

St. Louis has size and is willing to mix it up in the low post with 6-5 Matt Vivas, 6-6 Kapena Lum and 6-5 Sione Thompson.

Hilo (10-3, BIIF) is a full-court pressure team from start to finish. Top scorer is 6-2 Brandon Kauhi, who can post up inside as well as play the perimeter.

Seabury Hall (11-2, MIL) is sparked by 6-2 guard David Mayer, a good shooter and a solid athlete.

Kenji Price, the OIA West's player of the year and the league's top scorer (19.5 ppg), is Mililani's bread and butter.

Aiea has two key offensive threats: first-team OIA West Division all-star Mark Stringert (14 ppg) and Lee George (10 ppg). The latter also is a tenacious defender.

Kaimuki likes to use its size up front -- players like 6-4, 285-pound Travis Francisco -- to control the rebounds. Warren Tang, an OIA East Division first-team all-star (13 ppg) is the offensive threat.

Waimea is the Kauai Interscholastic Federation's representative after beating Kauai last night for the league title.

State basketball tournament Wednesday At McCabe Gym Game 1: Waimea vs. Kaimuki, 6 p.m. Game 2: Moanalua vs. Hilo, 7:30 p.m. At McKinley Game 3: Aiea vs. Seabury Hall, 6 p.m. Game 4: Mililani vs. St. Louis, 7:30 p.m. Thursday At Blaisdell Arena Game 5: Losers of Games 1 and 2, 2 p.m. Game 6: Maui vs. winner of Game 2, 3:30 p.m. Game 7: Kalaheo vs. winner of Game 3, 5 p.m. Game 8: Iolani vs winner of Game 1, 6:30 p.m. Game 9: Waiakea vs. winner of Game 4, 8 p.m. Friday Game 10: Losers of Games 3 and 4, 2 p.m. Game 11: Losers of Games 6 and 8, 3:30 p.m. Game 12: Losers of Games 7 and 9, 5 p.m. Game 13: Winners of Games 7 and 9, 6:30 p.m. Game 14: Winners of Games 6 and 8, 8 p.m. Saturday Game 15: Winners of Games 5 and 10, 3:30 p.m. Game 16: Winners of Games 11 and 12, 5 p.m. Game 17: Losers of Games 13 and 14, 6:30 p.m. Game 18: Winners of Games 13 and 14, 8 p.m.