Unbeaten Mililani will attempt to become the first OIA Western Division team to win a state title when the Outrigger Hotels Boys State Soccer Tournament opens Wednesday at War Memorial Stadium. Mililani top
seed in soccerThe Trojans (11-0-1) are seeded first and have a bye into Thursday's quarterfinals. Mililani will take on the winner of Wednesday's first-round game between Waimea (5-0-4) and Moanalua (9-3-1).
ILH champion Punahou (10-1-2) is the No. 2 seed, followed by MIL winner Baldwin (11-0-1) and BIIF champ Waiakea (12-2-1). The Buffanblu are the defending state titlists and looking for their 15th championship in the 26 years of the state tournament.
"It's a real honor to be the top seed because everyone is pretty much even," Mililani coach Jeff Yamamoto said. "Even the unseeded teams, like Iolani, are very good.
"The state title doesn't come to the OIA very often and we have as good a chance to win it as anyone. We had two goals this year. One was to win the OIA (tournament). The other is to win the states. I think the team that makes the fewest mistakes will come out ahead."
The Trojans were unscored upon in 12 games. Their only tie was against Moanalua, a 0-0 deadlock.
Only four OIA schools have ever won a state title, all from the East: Kalaheo (1984 and 1993), McKinley (1978), Castle (1980) and Kaimuki (1981). The other six titles belong to Iolani, which tied Punahou for the ILH title this season, then lost last week's playoff to the Buffanblu; the Raiders defeated MIL runnerup King Kekaulike Saturday in a playoff to earn a berth into this week's tournament.
Consolation games will be held at Maui High. Tickets are $6 for adults, $5 for students.
State boys soccer
Wednesday
At War Memorial Stadium
G1: Hilo (11-3-1) vs. Aiea (9-4), 1:30 p.m.
G2: Waimea (5-0-4) vs. Moanalua (9-3-1), 3:30 p.m.
G3: Hawaii Prep (11-2-2) vs. Castle (10-2), 5:30 p.m.
G4: Iolani (10-2-2) vs. Pearl City (10-2).
At Maui High
G5: Losers of Games 2 & 4, 4 p.m.At War Memorial Stadium
G6: No. 2 Punahou (10-1-2) vs. G1 winner, 1:30 p.m.
G7: No. 4 Waiakea (12-2-1) vs. G4 winner, 3:30 p.m.
G8: No. 3 Baldwin (11-0-1) vs. G3 winner, 5:30 p.m.
G9: No. 1 Mililani (11-0-1) vs. G2 winner, 7:30 p.m.
There's a little unfinished business remaining for the Kalaheo boys' basketball team. The Mustangs were a perfect 12-0 during the OIA season and head into this week's 43rd Hawaiian Airlines State Tournament at the Stan Sheriff Center as the top seed. Kalaheo
the team to beat"We've had a big bulls-eye on our back all season," Kalaheo coach Pete Smith said. "Part of our problem is our guys just wait for the big games. Now they're all big.
"If we play like we did Friday (an 82-42 win over Kalani in the OIA tournament final), we'll be in great shape. Being the top seed has been good in past years."
Last season, No. 1 Iolani defeated No. 2 Kalaheo in double overtime for the state title. The Raiders are unseeded this time and without senior twins Brad and Cord Anderson. They play the OIA fourth-place team, Castle, tomorrow at 8 p.m.
The Andersons and Punahou guard Steve Gilliam are ineligible under the fifth-year senior rule for the state tournament.
"It's going to be an interesting tournament," said Smith, whose teams won state titles in 1985 and 1993. "Regardless of how the pairings are, we've still got to win three games."
Besides two-time winner Kalaheo, three other past champions are in the field, all from the ILH: seven-time winner Punahou, six-time champ St. Louis and three-time winner Iolani. The second-seeded Buffanblu are coached by Alan Lum, who was on Punahou's state championship teams of 1979 and '80.
Third-seeded Waiakea, the BIIF champion, will meet the winner of tomorrow's game between Kalani and Lahainaluna. MIL winner Maui, the fourth seed, will take on the winner of tomorrow's first-round game between Kohala and St. Louis.
Ticket prices are $6 for adults and $3 for students.
At Stan Sheriff Center State boys basketball
G1: Kapaa (6-3) vs. Waianae (10-3), 3:30 p.m.
G2: Kalani (9-3) vs. Lahainaluna (14-2), 5 p.m.
G3: Kohala (12-2) vs. St. Louis (10-4), 6:30 p.m.
G4: Iolani (9-3) vs. Castle (8-5), 8 p.m.
G5: Losers of Games 3 & 4, 2 p.m.
G6: No. 4 Maui (15-1) vs. G3 winner, 3:30 p.m.
G7: No. 3 Waiakea (13-1) vs. G2 winner, 5 p.m.
G8: No. 1 Kalaheo (12-0) vs. G4 winner, 6:30 p.m.
G9: No. 2 Punahou (11-1) vs. G1 winner, 8 p.m.