Wednesday, February 6, 2002

Mustangs seek another
OIA title

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By Jason Kaneshiro
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.com

For Kalaheo and Mililani, undefeated regular-season records can't protect them from the prospect of seeing their year end with their next game.

The Mustangs and Trojans went 10-0 in their divisions and are the top seeds in the Oahu Interscholastic Association playoffs. But they must win their quarterfinal games on Friday to avoid elimination.

"The next game is the big game, if we don't win it we're done," Kalaheo coach Pete Smith said. "Everything you've worked for comes down to one night, 32 minutes of basketball."

Kalaheo is seeking its 10th OIA championship in the last 12 years, and its 13th under Smith. Mililani has never won a league title and hopes to become the first OIA West team to win it since Moanalua claimed the crown in 1990.

The only other schools to win the championship since were Kaimuki (1993) and Roosevelt (2000).

"We believe we can do it with the talent we have, and it's time we stepped it up," Mililani coach Mike Coito said.

The tournament starts tomorrow with first-round doubleheaders at Castle and Aiea.

In games at Castle, Leilehua (OIA West fourth place) plays Kaiser (OIA East fifth place) at 5 p.m. and Waipahu (OIA West sixth place) takes on the host Knights (OIA East third place) at 6:30.

In games at Aiea, Pearl City (OIA West fifth place) and Roosevelt (OIA East fourth place) meet at 5 p.m. and Aiea (OIA West third place) takes on Kailua (OIA East sixth place) at 6:30.

The top two seeds in each division have byes into Friday's quarterfinals at Kalaheo and Mililani.

Radford plays the winner of the Castle-Waipahu game at 5 p.m. in the first game at Kalaheo. The Mustangs take on Leilehua or Kaiser in the second game at 6:30.

Kaimuki plays Kailua or Aiea at 5 p.m. at Mililani. The Trojans await Pearl City or Roosevelt at 6:30.

The semifinals are Feb. 13 at the home gyms of the highest remaining seeds. The third-place and championship games are set for 5 and 7 p.m. Feb. 15 at Blaisdell Arena.

Oceanic Cable will televise the third-place and championship games live.

The four quarterfinal winners advance to the Hawaiian Airlines Boys State Basketball Championship which runs Feb. 20-23.

"From now on, every game is bigger than the one before," Smith said.

Kalaheo's frontcourt features 6-foot-6 senior Ikaika Alama-Francis and 6-foot-5 sophomore Sam Wilhoite, and the backcourt is at full strength for the first time this season now that senior guards D.C. Daniels and Michael Gayle have recovered from ankle injuries.

"D.C. can play anywhere from the one (point guard) to the four (power forward)," Smith said. "When he's healthy, he makes us real flexible depending on who we play and what we want to do."

Mililani isn't as fortunate. Senior center Trey Brown sprained his ankle against Leilehua last week and is out for the tournament.

"I don't think we can replace his rebounds and all the little things he does, but I know we have other guys who can step up and score," Coito said.

With Brown sidelined, the Trojans may rely even more on guard Rashaun Broadus and forward Kaipo Patoc to carry the load in the playoffs.

"It's the end of the season and everybody's peaking, so we have to start peaking too," Coito said.

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