Prep Beat
The St. Francis girls' basketball team may be building the state's quietest dynasty. St. Francis seeks 4-peat
By Jason Kaneshiro
Star-BulletinUnder the direction of head coach/athletic director Tony Tyler, the Catholic school team from Manoa Valley has won the Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division-II championship each of the last three seasons. This season, the team is 5-0 midway through the first-half of the ILH season.
St. Francis will continue its quest for a fourth-consecutive division title Saturday when the team travels to La Pietra. The ILH-II regular season runs through April 12. The playoffs start April 20.
Big Island girls tip off
The Big Island Interscholastic Federation girls' basketball season got underway yesterday, with Hilo beating Keaau. Waiakea opens its defense of its BIIF title Friday by taking on Laupahoehoe at the Seasiders' gym.
Mid-Pac lumber yard
The Mid-Pacific Institute baseball team has taken advantage of its oddly shaped home field to take the early lead in the ILH home run race. The Owls hit four homers in their first three games, most coming at home.Center field at Mid-Pacific is only 300 feet away from home plate, meaning fly balls that might be routine outs at other fields can become game-turning homers.
"You cannot let up on this field," said Mid-Pacific coach Dunn Muramaru. "Some teams give up a home run and they get down. But if you play here all the time you have to know that you just have to take it like a punch in the stomach and come back."
To report results of high school games or pass on prep story ideas, call the Sports Department at 529-4782 or e-mail jkaneshiro@starbulletin.com.
Athletes of the week
The 6-foot-5 left-hander pitched a complete-game two-hitter and drove in the winning run in the Sabers' season-opening win over Waipahu last Wednesday. He also hit a two-run homer in Campbell's win over Leilehua Saturday. Boys
Chad Bailey
Campbell baseball
The senior forward scored 35 points and grabbed 18 rebounds in victories over Punahou and Lutheran last week as St. Francis improved to 5-0 in Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division-II play. Girls
Jamila Jarmon
St. Francis basketball
Honor roll
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Brandy Richardson, Kalaheo: Scored 28 points in the Lady Mustangs' season-opening win over Castle Wednesday, then hit for 18 against Kalani on Saturday.Monica Tokoro, Iolani: Scored 21 points in a victory over Mid-Pacific last Friday and 15 in a loss to Punahou the next night.
Liz Narkon, St. Francis: Scored 29 points and pulled down 20 rebounds in a pair of wins last weekend.
BASEBALL
Issac Omura, Mid-Pacific: Hit two home runs and drove in six runs in three Owl victories last week.Matthew Higa, Damien: Threw a complete-game, one-hit shutout against Maryknoll March 17. He also picked off three Spartan baserunners.
Casey Daniel, Castle: Rapped five hits and drove in six runs in the Knights' season-opening wins over Kahuku and Farrington.
TRACK AND FIELD
Brian Daniels, Mililani: Won four events (discus, 100-meter dash, 4 x 100 relay and 4 x 100 weightmen's relay) at the George Yamamoto Invitational Saturday at Mililani, and was voted Boys Most Outstanding Performer.Orion Wilson, Pearl City: Helped lead the Chargers to a second-place finish at the Yamamoto Invitational. She competed in the high jump, 4 x 800 relay, 4 x 400 relay and medley relay and was voted Girls Most Outstanding Performer.
Cherina Tucker, Mililani: Led the Trojans to the Yamamoto Invitational championship. She ran in the 720 shuttle low hurdles, 4 x 200 relay, 4 x 800 relay, 4 x 400 relay and 100-meter dash.
Waiakea is the last non-ILH school to win a state girls basketball championship. Since the Warriors captured the title in 1985 and '86, Kamehameha has worn the crown seven times, Iolani four times and Punahou three times. Now you know
In only his second high school start, Aiea freshman pitcher Derek Tatsuno fires a no-hitter in a 9-0 victory over Leilehua. Five days later, members of the Hawaii State Teachers Association form picket lines as the nation's first statewide teachers' strike gets underway. Back in the day
March 28, 1973
This week's highlights
Today
BaseballCastle at Kaiser, 4 p.m.
Girls basketball
Kalaheo at Roosevelt, 7 p.m.
Friday
Girls basketballRadford at Nanakuli, 7:30 p.m. -- The winner takes the early-lead in the Oahu Interscholastic Association West hoops race.
Saturday
BaseballIolani at Mid-Pacific, 1 p.m. -- The early front-runners in the ILH race square off to close the first round of league play.
Leilehua at Mililani, 1 p.m.
Girls basketball
Sacred Hearts at Kamehameha, 7:30 p.m. -- The Lancers face their stiffest test of the season with the defending state champion Warriors.
To nominate an athlete, contact the Star-Bulletin Sports Department by 11 p.m. Sunday: Athletes of the week
529-4782 (phone)
529-4787 (fax)
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