The Oahu Interscholastic Association boys basketball season opens Friday with both of the league's defending division champions in action. Kalaheo, Mililani begin
quest for OIA titleBy Jason Kaneshiro
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.comKalaheo, last year's OIA champion and state runner-up, begins its quest for another OIA East title with a home game against McKinley. Mililani went 10-0 in the OIA West last season and opens against Nanakuli.
Junior varsity games start at 5 p.m. with the varsity games to follow.
Kalaheo enters the OIA season on a roll after winning the Big Island Candies Holiday Prep Classic in Hilo and finishing second in the Punahou Holiday Classic, where the Mustangs lost to Fullerton (Calif.) 40-32 in the final on Sunday.
Kalaheo has just three seniors on its roster and must replace its two leading scorers in Ikaika Alama-Francis and D.C. Daniels. The Mustangs return 6-foot-7 forward Sam Wilhoite. The junior was named the most valuable player of the Big Island Candies tournament.
Kaimuki, which finished second in the OIA East and third in the state last season, returns All-State forward Daniel Tautofi and sharp-shooter Jimmy Miyasaka. The Bulldogs host Kahuku to open the season. Farrington travels to Castle in another OIA East battle on Friday.
Mililani also hopes to defend its division title despite losing All-State guard Rashaun Broadus. Radford, which tied Aiea for second in the OIA West last season, hosts Waialua.
The OIA's opening weekend continues with five more games on Saturday.
The Interscholastic League of Honolulu also begins play on Saturday. Damien hosts Saint Louis at 6 p.m. Maryknoll plays Kamehameha at 6 p.m. in the first game of a doubleheader at Mid-Pacific Gym. The game between Mid-Pacific and University follows at 7:30.
A key early season matchup between rivals Punahou and Iolani is set for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Buffanblu's gym.
Softball showdown: Kailua and Kaimuki meet in an OIA softball duel Saturday at the Surfriders' field. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Both teams enter the contest at 3-0 in the OIA Eastern Division. Kailua pitcher Courtney Kessell has already thrown a no-hitter this season and struck out 10 batters in a win over Moanalua on Dec 21. Kaimuki is led by the bats of Tyleen Tausaga and Dalia Solia.
Castle is also 3-0 in the East and plays at Moanalua (1-1) this week.
Four-time defending OIA champion Mililani is 2-0 entering a game at Waipahu (1-1) on Saturday. Waianae (3-0) plays at Nanakuli.
Tengan undecided: Saint Louis football and basketball coach Delbert Tengan said he hasn't settled on his plans for the fall just yet.
As the Crusaders' basketball team enters the ILH season, Tengan is considering whether to return as football coach next season. He led Saint Louis to the state championship in his first season as head coach after taking over for Cal Lee, who remains the school's AD.
"If I were a smart man, I think I would get out while I was ahead," Tengan told the Honolulu Quarterback Club on Monday. "But I know after those two losses (to De La Salle and Kamehameha) a lot of our alumni kind of questioned my intelligence. Seriously, Cal gave me until after the holidays. I'll make a decision there. I haven't met with my staff yet. Cal said think about it. A real decision hasn't been made yet. It will be forthcoming in the next month or so."
Star-Bulletin sportswriter Dave Reardon
contributed to this report.
BACK TO TOP |
Athletes of the Week
BOYS
>> Satoshi Mitsuda, Punahou soccer: Scored two goals as the Buffanblu defeated defending Interscholastic League of Honolulu champ Kamehameha 4-1.
GIRLS
>> Chelsea Rice, Waiakea softball: Went 3-for-5 with a double, triple and home run and drove in four runs in the Warriors' 13-3 win over Kohala.
Honor Roll
BASKETBALL
>> Walter Wong Holiday Classic All-Tournament team: Chris Fardley, Kings (Wash.); Ben Pawlak, Kings (Wash.); Jason Rivers, Saint Louis; Desmond Hanohano, Saint Louis; Sean Lucke, Orange Lutheran (Calif.); Nathan Klitzing, Orange Lutheran (Calif.).
>> Kevin Lee, Maryknoll: Scored 24 points as the Spartans edged Hamamatsu Nishi (Japan) 62-60 in the Walter Wong Holiday Classic.
>> Desmond Hanohano, Saint Louis: Scored 22 points as the Crusaders knocked off Kings (Wash.) 57-52 in the Walter Wong Holiday Classic.
>> Shosei Yamauchi, Kahuku: Scored 20 points in the Red Raiders' 60-54 win over Aiea in a preseason game.
>> Dusten Umeda, Kalani: Poured in 20 points as the Falcons defeated Fairmont (Calif.) in the Punahou Holiday Classic.
>> Nick Milan, Kaimuki: Hit for 25 points in the Bulldogs' 72-45 win over Hilo in the Punahou Holiday Classic.
>> Jimmy Miyasaka, Kaimuki: Scored 20 points in the Bulldogs' win over Hilo.
>> Matt Choy, Iolani: Scored 22 points for the Raiders' Division II team in a 63-50 win over Fairmont.
>> Gene Rivera, Maui: Scored 18 points to lead the Sabers to a 76-35 win over Seabury Hall in the Maui Interscholastic League opener for both teams.
BOYS SOCCER
>> Aaron Miura, Moanalua: Scored all of the Menehunes' goals in a 3-1 win over Kaiser.
>> Kyle Juliano, Kahuku: Booted three goals in a 4-2 win over McKinley.
>> Evan Patek, Roosevelt: Scored three times in a 5-0 win over Farrington.
>> Christopher Kaaukuu, Pearl City: Scored three goals in an 8-0 win over Waipahu.
>> Ethan Gonsalves, Castle: Scored both goals as Castle edged Kaimuki 2-1.
GIRLS SOCCER
>> Ashley Kanda, Castle: Scored three goals in the Knights' 11-0 win over Kaimuki.
>> Kimberly Unten, Pearl City: Kicked in three scores in the Chargers' 7-0 win over Waipahu.
>> Larilyn Alota, Roosevelt: Scored three goals to lead the Rough Riders to a 6-0 win over Farrington.
SOFTBALL
>> Nikki Riviera, Waiakea: Hit a double and a grand slam in the Warriors' win over Kohala.
>> Shawna Kanoa, Kahuku: Hit a grand slam in the Red Raiders' 14-3 win over McKinley.
>> Sharee Fonoti, Kamehameha: Went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI as Kamehameha defeated Punahou 3-1 in extra innings.
>> Pikake Nutter-Gaudet, Leilehua: Tripled and homered in a four-RBI performance against Aiea.
>> Maureen Cozo, Waipahu: Drove in four runs in the Marauders' 8-7 win over Nanakuli.
>> Courtney Kessell, Kailua: Struck out 12 batters in the Surfriders' 7-1 win over Roosevelt.
>> Lia Pedrina, Castle: Went 3-for-4 with a homer and earned a complete-game victory in the Knights' 3-2 win over Kaiser.
>> Zoie Sevilla, Baldwin: Went 4-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs in the Bears' 11-2 win over King Kekaulike.
To nominate an athlete of the week, contact the Star-Bulletin Sports Department by 11 p.m. Sunday: To nominate ...
Phone: 529-4782
Fax: 529-4787
E-mail: sports@starbulletin.com
Hawaii School Web Sites
