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Wednesday, May 3, 2000

Mules get their
wish: a game
with Mustangs

By Tim Crouse
Special to the Star-Bulletin

At the beginning of the season, the players on the Leilehua girl's basketball team talked about how exciting it would be to get a chance to play Kalaheo in the postseason, especially if it was a championship game.

Tomorrow's Oahu Interscholastic Association Tournament game against the two-time defending OIA champs isn't for a title, but it's just one step removed.

The Mustangs (10-0) and Mules (10-1) will square off in one OIA semifinal game, with two surprise teams, Nanakuli (10-2) and Kahuku (8-3), playing in the other.

"We've accomplished so much this season, and getting to play Kalaheo is the gravy on the top," Leilehua coach Buz Vaspar said.

Kalaheo coach Chico Furtado said the Mules have more size, but his team can counter that with more quickness.

"We'll have to use a little finesse, and hit some shots," Furtado said.

And it remains to be seen whether Leilehua can do what 10 previous opponents failed at: finding a way to slow down Brandy Richardson.

Richardson scored 19 points a game in the regular season, and went for 16 last week in Kalaheo's 47-34 win over Aiea.

"Leilehua does a good job of half-court trapping. They're relentless," Furtado said. "We've just got to handle it."

Kahuku pulled the surprise of the OIA season with an overtime upset of Moanalua Friday. That came a day after outlasting Pearl City in double overtime.

"All season long we turned to April (Atuaia)," Red Raider coach Mona Ah Hoy said. "I told the team we need everyone to step up."

Ah Hoy said during practice she'd pull different players aside and give them specific roles, and everyone did their part in last week's games.

She said a big key for Kahuku is to stop Nanakuli's fast-break opportunities.

Nanakuli coach Darin Pilialoha said Atuaia and Lindsey Williams - who scored 15 points against Moanalua - are a concern for his team because of their athleticism.

But he said if his 13 girls execute the game plan, the Golden Hawks should do well.

Nanakuli's only two OIA losses were to Moanalua and Leilehua, who went a combined 17-1 in the regular season.

"People say 13 is an unlucky number, but we've tried to turn that around," said first-year coach Pilialoha. "In the preseason I told them to stick with me and I'll stick with you.

"The girls gained confidence in themselves and in me. They picked up on my high expectations," he said.

No matter who wins and loses tomorrow and Friday, all four teams will have the chance to make one more tournament run - in the state tournament May 16-19.