High School Beat
Star-Bulletin staff
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Angry Kealakehe coaches critical of Waveriders' state soccer seeding
The dispute between Kealakehe's boys soccer coaches and the Hawaii High School Athletic Association has not been resolved.
Waveriders coach Urs Leuenberger and assistant Miles Nakahara were suspended during last week's state tournament, and Kealakehe athletic director Mike Hernandez is trying to get to the bottom of what became a hostile situation at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park.
"Well, I've read all the information from the HHSAA and heard what Urs told me. I'm not going to take a position on this," Hernandez said. "I don't know what else I can do but apologize on behalf of our coaches."
It wasn't until Kealakehe was done with its first-round game that Hernandez was aware of any problem.
"My understanding is that our coaches wanted a clarification. The next day, (Urs) said, 'I think there's been a mistake.' "
The tournament draw gave Kealakehe a matchup with Interscholastic League of Honolulu runner-up Punahou. Kealakehe finished third in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation.
Hernandez said he knew Leuenberger thought it was an unfair draw and told him to forget about it.
"Nothing was going to change the tournament. After the loss to Punahou, I told him to get over it. The tourney will go on as it is, pull the horses back," he said.
Yet, the next day, 5 minutes before Kealakehe's consolation-round game, Nakahara approached the press box to question officials about the seeding. According to the coaches, the HHSAA drew up incorrect pairings according to association by-laws.
"They wanted an explanation. That's all they wanted, but no one had an answer," Hernandez said.
That's when Nakahara became agitated.
HHSAA officials, including executive director Keith Amemiya, told the Star-Bulletin that Nakahara began to yell at the tournament officials -- including two athletic directors.
Nakahara, they said, stuck his finger in the officials' chests and challenged them vociferously, saying there would be trouble in the parking lot, according to the officials.
That's when the HHSAA called police.
"Kealakehe's coaches had three full days prior to the start of the tournament. They had time to bring up any concerns they had about the brackets," Amemiya said.
Hernandez thinks the entire incident could have been avoided.
"We're going to have a meeting with the principal (Wilfred Murakami) later this week. Miles is not really that kind of person, (but) he won't accept any answer unless you show him the criteria," Hernandez said. "I gave them the brackets and they didn't bother with it until the Kalaheo coaches brought it to our attention."
Makinano suspended:
The Campbell Sabers went on without one of their top players,
Mike Makinano, as the Hawaiian Airlines/HHSAA Boys Basketball State Championships tipped off last night.
Coach Bobby Samson confirmed that the streaky, high-scoring junior guard is officially off the team. Samson would not disclose the exact reason, but did say that it had to do with discipline.
"I'm a teacher first, coach second. I've been through this as a parent, as a coach, as a teacher," Samson said.
Samson said he did what was best for the team and (in the long run) what's best for Makinano.
"The very first thing I told him is, if after all this, you still want to be part of this program, you're more than welcome," Samson said. "We start next week, planning for next year."
Without Makinano, the Sabers rallied from a big deficit and nearly beat Radford in last week's Oahu Interscholastic Association Red third-place game.
"This team pulled together. We were down 18 to Radford and pulled within two," Samson said. "The younger kids busted their tail to get to this point. Our goal was getting to the state tournament."
Campbell has dealt with adversity before.
"I really believe this team overachieved. Our point guard, Ryan Hayes, graduated. Two guys in the starting lineup decided not to come out. Then Tristan Sealy leaves (to join Thompson Academy)," Samson said. "And then we started the season with six consecutive away games."
Beth McLachlin hurt:
Former La Pietra athletic director
Beth McLachlin broke the sixth cervical vertebrae in her back while teaching a trampoline class at the school last week.
"I did one flip, landed fine. Did another, didn't land fine," said McLachlin, who didn't suffer any paralysis. "I knew I had hurt my neck and my back and immediately laid on the tramp and had the girls call 911.
"It was scary. I've been on a tramp all my life, since I was 10, and never had an accident. Everyone keeps asking, 'You're 57, what where you thinking?' I tell them the guy we bought the tramp from was 70 and he had been using it up until he brought it over to us."
McLachlin, who played volleyball for the U.S. national team and the University of Hawaii, was expecting to get the results of her MRI today. She said the first question she'll ask the doctor is: "Can I go to the state basketball tournament."
Youngest son Spencer McLachlin is the senior center for top-ranked Punahou, which has a second-round game tonight.
The Star-Bulletin's Cindy Luis contributed to this report
Athlete of the Week
Ben Strand, Punahou soccer: scored the winning goal at the 79-minute mark to lift the Buffanblu over Kalani in the state championship game.
Honor Roll
BASKETBALL
Beau Albrechtson, Kaimuki: scored 28 points against Radford.
Stevie Austin, Moanalua: scored 23 points against Leilehua.
Tri Bourne, Academy of the Pacific: had 15 rebounds with nine steals and eight points against Hanalani.
Nick Castello, Assets: scored 24 points against Lanakila Baptist.
Keoni Daniel, AOP: scored 21 points against Hanalani.
Jayden Delizo, Campbell: scored 21 points against Radford.
Brad Foster, AOP: scored 18 points and grabbed 18 rebounds against Hanalani.
Sam Guard, Seabury Hall: scored 21 points against Molokai.
Christian Hernandez, Farrington: scored 24 points on eight 3-pointers against Kaiser.
Nainoa Lessary, McKinley: scored 24 points against Aiea.
Chase Nakamura, Baldwin: scored 21 points against Lahainaluna.
Eben Napoleon, Molokai: scored 24 points against Lanai and 20 against Seabury Hall.
Keawe Ochman, Lanakila Baptist: scored 21 points against Assets.
Gary Satterwhite, Radford: scored 21 points against Kaimuki and 24 against Campbell.
P.J. Wood, Hanalani: scored 22 points against Lutheran.
Obie Woods, Aiea: scored 21 points against McKinley.
SOCCER
Ian Garrod, Kalani: delivered shutouts against Makua Lani Christian and Leilehua at the Meadow Gold State Soccer Championships.
Kenn Kamoto, Kalani: scored a goal in a win over Kalaheo, then scored the lone goal in a state semifinal win over Makua Lani Christian.
Bennett Pang, Punahou: scored four goals in a state semifinal win over Roosevelt.
Now You Know
» Five-time defending state basketball champion Iolani has played in six straight state-title games. The Raiders lost to Kalaheo in 2001. The year before, Hilo earned the crown by beating Saint Louis in the final.
To nominate ...
To nominate an athlete of the week, contact the Star-Bulletin Sports Department by 11 p.m. Sunday:
Phone: 529-4782
Fax: 529-4787
E-mail: sports@starbulletin.com
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To nominate ...
To nominate an athlete of the week, contact the Star-Bulletin Sports Department by 11 p.m. Sunday:
Phone: 529-4782
Fax: 529-4787
E-mail: sports@starbulletin.com
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