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Prep Beat
Jeff Yamamoto always believed. Mililani title a
long time comingOptimism pays off in the form of
the Trojans' first boys' state soccer
championship everMustangs top hoops seed
By Tim Crouse
Special to the Star-BulletinOn Saturday night, the Mililani coach and his soccer team finally turned that belief into reality.
The Trojans beat Hilo, 2-0, in the championship game of the AT&T Wireless Boys State Soccer Championships at Aloha Stadium.
"I'm always optimistic at the beginning of the season that we can win," Yamamoto said.
If he doesn't go into every season believing that his team can win the Oahu Interscholastic Association and state titles, his team will pick up on that attitude, he said.
"They need to be able to believe that they can do anything, and (how can they) if I don't believe it?" he said.
Mililani lost to arch-rival Pearl City in the middle of the OIA season -- but didn't lose again until the OIA championship game.
"We were peaking late, especially after the (regular season) loss," Yamamoto said. "It was a blessing in disguise. It woke the coaches up and we made some changes. It's crucial that the players believe in the coaches, and they did."
Mililani (13-2-1) had seven seniors on the roster, including captains Blaine Murakami and Jarrett Razon.
"The seniors really put it together and everyone jumped on their bandwagon and went along," Yamamoto said.
Razon, a four-year player who led the team in scoring during the regular season, gave Mililani a crucial one-goal lead against Hilo on Saturday.
Razon booted a penalty kick past Viking goalkeeper Eddie Ruhland in the 47th minute, allowing the Trojans to switch to a defensive mode for the rest of the second half.
Timmy Liu capped off the game by adding another goal during injury time at the end of regulation.
Mililani allowed just six Hilo shots and keeper Thomas Brown was forced to make just four saves.
The victory gave the team its first state championship in two tries. Mililani lost, 2-1, to Iolani in last season's finale.
"That gave them added incentive to redeem themselves from last year," Yamamoto said. "They remembered very well how it felt to lose and they didn't like it."
The reaction Saturday was much different.
"Most of the parents were crying, they were so happy. The seniors' parents were ecstatic," Yamamoto said. "They all experienced heartache last year. This was very important."
Yamamoto just completed his seventh year as head coach, with assistant coaches Tony Hart, Norman Beter, Steve McGehee and Josh Rolf, who played for Yamamoto and helped the Trojans finish third in the state tournament in 1996.
Mililani became the second non-Interscholastic League of Honolulu team to win the state title since 1994. Pearl City won in '99.
Hilo was playing in the championship game for the first time.
Kalaheo heads into this week's Hawaiian Airlines Boys' State Basketball Championships as the team to beat. Mustangs top hoops seed
The top-seeded Mustangs, champions of the Oahu Interscholastic Association, try for their first title since 1995, and third overall.
Iolani, who lost to Kalaheo in the preseason, is seeded second. The Raiders are the Interscholastic League of Honolulu champions.
No. 3 seed Honokaa replaces defending state champ Hilo atop the Big Island Interscholastic Federation this year. The Dragons are the only team besides Kalaheo with an unblemished league record.
Maui is the No. 4 seed.
Mililani, Leilehua and Kahuku join Kalaheo in representing the OIA. Punahou and St. Louis are in from the ILH.
Kapaa (Kauai Interscholastic Federation), Waiakea (BIIF) and Baldwin (Maui Interscholastic League) round out the field.
Games on Wednesday and Thursday will be played at the McKinley High School Gym and St. Louis' McCabe Gym.
The tournament shifts to the Stan Sheriff Center on Friday and Saturday. The championship game is set for 8 p.m. on Saturday.
Parking at McKinley and St. Louis is free. Parking at the Stan Sheriff Center is $3.
Adult admission is $7. Admission for students (grades K-12) is $5.
The doors to the three sites open 30 minutes before the first game of the day.
Tim Crouse, Special to the Star-Bulletin
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