Wednesday, October 14, 1998
State boys’
basketball to include
third ILH team?
Addition of Academy
By Pat Bigold
of the Pacific is expected
to up league representation
Star-BulletinInterscholastic League of Honolulu boys' basketball fans have clamored for years that their league is under-represented in the state tournament.
But now it appears the ILH will get three berths in the state tournament Feb. 17-20 in Honolulu.
The Star-Bulletin has learned that, via the Hawaii High School Athletic Association formula for tournament representation, the addition of the Academy of the Pacific will boost the ILH boys' participation in the tournament.
"My stand has always been that we are the only island with two leagues and we should send the best reps for Oahu," longtime Kamehameha Schools head coach Jim Winchester said.
The ILH has won 17 state boys' basketball championships since 1970, and many consider it to be the state's strongest league.
Iolani head coach Mark Mugiishi said he wasn't surprised by the news as he has looked at the participation formula.
"(While) it's nice to have the best teams in the state tournament, it's also good to have fair representation from all of the leagues," Mugiishi said.
Seventeen varsity teams will represent 12 schools in the ILH next season.
Anthony Ramos, president of the HHSAA and the ILH, wouldn't confirm the increase.
Ramos, who was contacted while attending the National Federation Section 7/8 (Western states) conference in Lahaina yesterday, said any information concerning the increase in ILH representation in the state tournament must come from HHSAA executive director Keith Ame-miya.
Amemiya did not respond to numerous phone calls Monday and yesterday by the Star-Bulletin.
Although the ILH girls will host the 1999 state tournament May 18-21, it appears they will still get only two berths. A host league often receives an extra berth, but the tournament formula works against the ILH girls.
Fifteen varsity teams will represent 11 schools.
"We've always felt the ILH is very strong and is not just two deep," said Shelley Fey, who has coached the Punahou girls to the last two state championships.
"We deserve another berth, and I think it would be in the best interests of the state organization if we got some extra representation."
The ILH has won 18 girls' state titles since 1977, the first year of the HHSAA tournament.
Tournament representation in the state tournament is determined by multiplying the number of participating teams in a league by the number of teams in the state tournament, and then dividing that by the number of participating teams in the state.
Ramos would not confirm reports that the ILH boys, and possibly the girls, will have only one berth in the state soccer tournament, scheduled on Maui in February.
