RONEN ZILBERMAN / RZILBERMAN@STARBULLETIN.COM
Kainoa Higgins, left, and the Punahou Buffanblu played Iolani tough in a 63-58 loss earlier this month.
State powers gear up
for run at basketball
championshipIolani is the team to beat as the
state tournament starts tomorrow
In a rare moment outside the spotlight, the Iolani basketball team lost a game last Saturday night.
The 11 teams that hope to upend the two-time defending state champion Raiders this week in the Hawaiian Airlines Boys State Basketball Tournament need not try to locate a copy of the videotape to aid in duplicating that feat, however, as Iolani coach Mark Mugiishi was a step ahead of the competition, as usual.
"We didn't tape it," Mugiishi joked of the Raiders' 61-59 setback to an all-star Iolani alumni team. "There's no evidence that it was ever played."
For the record, the exhibition with Iolani's alumni filled some needs for the Raiders. Led by former Iolani (and Santa Clara) standouts Cord and Brad Anderson, among others, they provided first-rate competition while helping interrupt what will amount to a 14-day layoff without a game for the Raiders when they meet the Waimea-Kaimuki winner in a quarterfinals matchup Thursday at Blaisdell Arena. The tournament continues Friday with the semifinals, and the title game is set for Saturday at 8 p.m.
"It was not easy to keep focused -- we had a sloppy week -- so it was nice that we ended with a competitive game," Mugiishi said. "We had an intra-squad scrimmage before our alumni game. We always have it (the alumni game) -- we just don't always lose. But it was a wake-up call for us to get focused."
Not included among the former Iolani players who took part Saturday night was Chico Furtado, the first-year Kalaheo coach.
"I'm disappointed I didn't get a call," joked Furtado, who graduated from the school in 1975. "Maybe Mark didn't want me out there playing against those kids."
Kalaheo has won eight games in a row, and, along with Interscholastic League of Honolulu runner-up Punahou, figures to be the Raiders' greatest threat to a third straight crown. Iolani beat Punahou three times overall and won both meetings with Kalaheo in the preseason, but Mugiishi has won enough big games to remain true to the one-at-a-time mindset.
"When a team loses a game, it will make adjustments," he said. "When you win, you don't go and change everything, so it's always harder to play a team a third time. Punahou improved considerably from the first time we played them to the last, so we expect them to be ready. I watched the OIA tournament and was very impressed with both Kaimuki and Kalaheo. I haven't seen any of the neighbor island teams since preseason, so I don't know how far they've come."
Joining Iolani among the unbeatens are Maui (12-0), Waimea (8-0) and Kealakehe (15-0). Like the Raiders, the neighbor island teams feature strong back-court play. Maui point guard Gene Rivera rates among the best in the state at his position, while Kealakehe boasts two-time Big Island Interscholastic Federation Player of the Year Kyle Teves.
With a roster that goes 10-deep, depth has played no small role in Iolani's run.
"You can feel like you're right in the game with them, and the next thing you know, you're down big," Furtado said. "When we played them, we led at halftime both times, and then they went on big runs."
Kalaheo's current win streak has been due to the development of its supporting cast -- Theo Fujita, Neil Bowers, Matt Nakashima and William Elliott -- which has complemented the inside play of 6-foot-7 senior center Sam Wilhoite, the state's leading scorer at 26 points per game. Wilhoite is coming off the most complete outing of his career with 31 points, 15 rebounds and nine blocks in last Friday's OIA championship game.
"Teams key on Sam, obviously, but the balance we've been striving for has finally come to fruition," Furtado said. "The kids are feeling good about themselves. We're playing as well as we've played all year."
Punahou's 63-58 loss to Iolani earlier in the month gave the rest of the field hope, given the number of blowouts the Raiders have had to date.
"A lot of factors went into that game," Punahou coach Greg Tacon said. "No. 1, we get to play them more than most because they're in our league, so we can adjust better. No 2, they didn't shoot the ball well that night, and I don't know how many nights you can count on that against a great team like Iolani."
A unique blend of experience and youth has carried Punahou this season. Freshman guard Jeremiah Ostrowski has been a consistent scorer, averaging 14.5 points per game to lead the Buffanblu, while fellow first-year player Spencer McLachlin, junior forward Brenton Lee (11 ppg) and junior center Kasey Ko have had stellar seasons. In addition to battling its ILH wars, the Buffanblu have played seven of the 11 teams (in preseason or the regular season) taking part in this week' tournament.
"We have film on eight of the teams, so that's been a big help, although I'm sure everyone else has their connections, too," Tacon said.
While Tacon would be the last to underestimate the importance of a scouting report, he prefers to keep the emphasis on his own team.
"When our turnovers are low, that's when we're playing at our best," he said. "That's the key. I like our chances to advance if our turnover ratio is good. You have to execute at a high level at the state tournament, and we're working toward that."
