HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
Raiders return to No. 1 in poll
If a shootout awaits, the Iolani Raiders will always be ready.
The last thing they expected against Maryknoll's sharpshooters, though, was a defensive battle. The Raiders persevered, capping a highly successful week with a 50-44 triple-overtime win over the scrappy Spartans on Saturday night.
"They played phenomenal defense. We know about Tyler Tsukazaki's scoring ability, and how tough Jordan Ho-Ching is," Iolani coach Mark Mugiishi said. "Eventually, it came down to getting baskets inside because they were shutting down our perimeter effectively."
That's where senior Jon Takamura stepped up, scoring a season-high 11 points. Mugiishi wasn't surprised, particularly after the team's trip to the Northwest at the end of December.
"We got a sense of renewal. Our kids go out there, all 15 guys, and nobody wanted to be the one to let the other ones down," Mugiishi said. "They really have a 'One Team' concept, put their ego to the side."
Along with a 62-45 win over Punahou earlier in the week, the Raiders got all the attention of voters. Iolani returned to the No. 1 spot with all 18 first-place votes.
The fun in the ILH continues with some key matchups this week. Kamehameha has the toughest slate, with games against Punahou and Iolani. With five Interscholastic League of Honolulu teams in the Top 10, matchups are proving tough to choose from.
Back in the 1980s, the ILH sometimes played tripleheaders at Blaisdell Arena. If that format was still in place, fans would have been able to see Saturday's double-OT game between Saint Louis and Kamehameha as well as the triple-OT duel between Iolani and Maryknoll.
There are no tripleheaders or twinbills scheduled, but Mugiishi has an idea.
"One thing that could help the fans out is to stagger the times. Except for Kamehameha, all the gyms are close to each other," he suggested. "You could almost play at 5:30 in one gym, and at 8 in another."
Rising power in BIIF: The Kamehameha-Hawaii Warriors are up to No. 6 today, following a huge string of wins last week. The Warriors' balanced attack includes the solid play of Mea Wong, their leading scorer.
"Mea is playing well. He's doing a nice job of controlling the tempo and lately has been scoring some," coach Nelson Wong said. "I think the preseason trip to Punahou has helped instill confidence on our squad."
Kamehameha-Hawaii registered some big wins at the Punahou Holiday Classic, edging Baldwin and Kahuku. At another tourney, the Warriors got past Kalaheo.
"When you're building a program from scratch and throw your kids to the wolves at an early age like we did two years ago, having confidence is big. We're getting challenged every single game," Wong said.
ILH
Scoring |
G |
Pts |
Avg
|
Nip, Iol |
4 |
61 |
15.3
|
Holyfield, MPI |
5 |
76 |
15.2
|
Tsukazaki, Mryk |
4 |
60 |
15.0
|
Ostrowski, Pun |
4 |
52 |
13.0
|
Shidaki, StL |
4 |
49 |
12.3
|
Smith, StL |
4 |
49 |
12.3
|
Shoji, Iol |
4 |
48 |
12.0
|
Masoli, StL |
4 |
47 |
11.8
|
Bayne, StL |
4 |
41 |
10.3
|
Enos, Kam |
4 |
41 |
10.3
|
McLachlin, Pun |
4 |
41 |
10.3
|
Ho, Kam |
4 |
39 |
9.8
|
Cho, Pun |
4 |
37 |
9.3
|
Ellsworth, MPI |
5 |
43 |
8.6 |
3-point leaders--8: Nip, Iol. 7: Ostrowski, Pun. 6: Cerezo, Dam; Cho, Pun; Liu, Mryk. 5: Cummings, Kam. 4: 3: Bayne, StL; Romuar, Dam; Tsukazaki, Mryk; Won, MPI.
OIA East
Scoring |
G |
Pts |
Avg
|
Ale, Kah |
4 |
92 |
23.0
|
Keen, Thomp |
4 |
65 |
16.3
|
Austin, Moan |
4 |
50 |
12.5
|
West, Moan |
4 |
47 |
11.8
|
Lessary, McK |
4 |
44 |
11.0
|
Wingert, Kais |
5 |
54 |
10.8
|
Judd, Kalh |
3 |
32 |
10.7
|
Reyes, Kaim |
5 |
53 |
10.6
|
Jun, Moan |
4 |
42 |
10.5
|
Keiter-Charles, Cas |
2 |
21 |
10.5
|
Vo, McK |
4 |
41 |
10.3
|
Keola, Roos |
4 |
40 |
10.0 |
3-point leaders--10: Letoto, Kaln. 7: Ale, Kah; Filifili, Far. 6: Oden, Kail; Pyo, Kaim. 5: Khautakoun, Kaln; Uehara, Kais; Aila, Kais. 4: Judd, Kalh; Shiu, Kaim; Serdenia, Far.
Note: Missing statistics from 1/7 Farrington-Moanalua game.
OIA West
Scoring |
G |
Pts |
Avg
|
Hayes, Cam |
4 |
65 |
16.3
|
Padayao, Kapo |
1 |
16 |
16.0
|
Satterwhite, Rad |
4 |
67 |
15.3
|
Sealy, Cam |
4 |
57 |
14.3
|
Orteza, Lei |
4 |
56 |
14.0
|
Moses, Mil |
4 |
54 |
13.5
|
Laurel, Lei |
4 |
52 |
13.0
|
Faliuga, Wain |
3 |
37 |
12.3
|
Pedro, Waip |
3 |
37 |
12.3
|
Cruz, PC |
4 |
48 |
12.0
|
Olmos, Mil |
4 |
47 |
11.8
|
Nacapuy, Wail |
4 |
47 |
11.8
|
Salvacion, PC |
4 |
45 |
11.3
|
Beers, Wain |
3 |
34 |
11.3
|
Lauvasa, Nan |
4 |
44 |
11.0
|
Goodman, Rad |
4 |
44 |
11.0
|
Miller, Aiea |
3 |
33 |
11.0
|
Patronis, Nan |
4 |
40 |
10.0 |
3-point leaders--11: Cruz, PC. 7: Satterwhite, Rad. 6: Olmos, Mil. 5: Nelson, Aiea; Green, Wain. 4: Orteza, Lei; Salvacion, PC; Sooto, Rad; Beers, Wain; Kahal, Wain; Rivera, Waip.