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Saturday, December 30, 2000

Kalaheo coach
high on his team

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By Tim Crouse
Special to the Star-Bulletin

Pete Smith has had some pretty good teams during his tenure as Kalaheo boys' basketball coach.

He's won two state titles, and has had some great players, including son Alika, who went on to star for the University of Hawaii, and NBA prospect Julian Sensley.

So Oahu Interscholastic Association teams should pay attention when the long-time coach describes his team this year.

"This is one of the most athletic teams I've ever had," Smith said. "And we need to take advantage of that. It's also one of the deepest teams."

The six-year dominance in the OIA of Kalaheo, which won 76 straight regular season games and six OIA titles in a row, ended last season with losses to Castle in the regular season and Radford in the OIA Tournament. The Mustangs wound up in fifth place in the state tournament.

If Smith is right, and this is one of his most athletic, deepest teams, Kalaheo could win its first state crown since 1995.

But first the Mustangs have to make it through a tough OIA season, which begins Tuesday.

With the addition of Kapolei to the OIA Western Division, Moanalua plays in the East this year, and the regular season has expanded to 10 games.

Kalaheo takes an 11-1 preseason record into Tuesday's home opener against Kaimuki.

"We've progressed nicely," said Smith. "But we've still got a long way to go like everyone else."

The Mustangs' lone loss was in the Holiday Prep Classic in Las Vegas, where they finished fifth.

"We played some real good teams, some different types of teams. We found ourselves making all kinds of adjustments. I think it really did help us," Smith said.

Smith said Kalaheo will play an up-tempo style, trying to create as many possessions as possible.

With newcomer Skyler Wilson at the point and all-state junior DC Daniels at the 3 spot, the Mustangs' offense appears to be in good hands.

Wilson, a senior transfer from the Palm Springs area in California, has averaged 16 points a game in the James Alegre Invitational and had a couple of big games in Las Vegas.

Smith said Shayden Marumoto -- the team's best defender -- will rotate at off-guard and point in Kalaheo's three-guard system.

Ikaika Francis (6-foot-4 junior) and CJ Kamiola (6-2 junior) patrol the middle for the Mustangs.

"I think Kalaheo has a real advantage over the other OIA teams," Radford coach Kai Enos said. "They have good coaching in a good system. With the addition of (Wilson) and the others who know their roles, they'll be good."

Radford, under first-year coach Enos, looks for returnee Sam Baker (6-0 senior) and Arizona transfer Kevin Calloway (6-5 senior) to lead the team that ousted Kalaheo from last year's OIA Tournament.

"(Calloway) is a big man that handles the ball fairly well and he has a nice touch on the perimeter," Enos said. "I think our strength is our defense. We have to work on executing more on offense."

Defending OIA champion Roosevelt lost several key players from a team that nearly made it to the state tournament title game, but returns point guard Keola Stietzel.

Richard Pagan leads a young Moanalua team into East competition, after it finished second in the West last year. All five starters are gone from that team. Center Chris Beck (6-4 sophomore) and guard Chris Young (6-1 sophomore) are key for the Menehune.

Leilehua lost to Radford in the consolation game of the preseason Iolani Classic, and is led by senior guards Ricardo Bachelor (5-10) and Joshua Jumawan (5-10).

Sophomore Eric Marshall (6-1) was an offensive force during the preseason, scoring 23 points against nationally ranked Montrose Christian in the Iolani Classic.

Mililani is led by the Broadus brothers, Rashaun and William, who transferred from Waianae.