[ HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL ]
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Bobby Nash says the state champion Iolani Raiders have better practices as the Iolani Classic approaches.
Over its first 19 years, the Iolani Prep Classic has evolved into part holiday hoops festival and part measuring stick for Hawaii high school basketball. Finalists from 2001 return
for Iolani Classic
Game Schedule
By Jason Kaneshiro
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.comThe 20th edition should be no different, as some of the nation's top prep teams come to town and the eight local teams in the field try to elevate their games in hopes of becoming the first Hawaii squad to win the tournament title.
"It always increases the level of play," Iolani coach Mark Mugiishi said. "There's no question our program at Iolani has improved because we've had a chance to play some of these guys."
The field for the annual basketball binge features three nationally ranked teams, including third-ranked Miami Christian (Fla.).
"Even the ones that aren't ranked are extremely good teams," Mugiishi said.
Miami Christian, Florida's reigning Class I-A state champion, went 38-2 last year and is ranked third in the USA Today Super 25 preseason rankings and could be moving up after top-ranked Oak Hill's loss last week.
Guillermo Diaz, the Victors' 6-foot-1 guard, could be one of the tournament's main attractions and a favorite in the dunk contest with his explosive leaping ability.
"He's taken dollar bills off the top of the backboard," said tournament director Glenn Young.
Montrose Christian (Rockville, Md.) returns as the nation's 13th-ranked team a year after losing to Fairfax (Los Angeles) in the 2001 Iolani Classic final.
Montrose is led by Lithuanian power forward Linas Kleiza and coach Stu Vetter has added 6-6 point guard Churchill Odia, a transfer from Nigeria, to the lineup.
Fairfax, ranked 16th in the country, is back to defend its tournament title led by point guard Kevin Bell.
Vincent (Wis.) appears at No. 10 in the Midwest regional rankings. Other mainland teams in the tournament are Archbishop Carroll (Washington D.C.), Ben Franklin (Seattle) and Lincoln (Portland, Ore.). Scavolini, the 17-and-under junior national champion from Italy, is also making the trip to Hawaii.
Local teams joining Iolani in the tournament are Radford, Kamehameha, St. Louis, Leilehua, Kaimuki, Baldwin and Pearl City.
"We're ready," said senior forward Bobby Nash. "Whenever you hear Miami Christian is coming or Fairfax is coming, definitely the practices have been better. We know what to look forward to. These guys are big athletes and they're ready to come and play."
The tournament begins at 3:30 p.m. tomorrow with Radford playing Vincent. Kamehameha takes on Archbishop Carroll at 5 p.m. Leilehua plays Miami Christian at 6:30, and St. Louis faces Ben Franklin at 8.
First-round play continues Tuesday with Scavolini playing Lincoln and Kaimuki facing Montrose.
Iolani opens its tournament run Wednesday against Baldwin, followed by Pearl City's meeting with Fairfax. Should Iolani and Fairfax prevail, they would meet Thursday in a rematch of last year's quarterfinal thriller, which the Lions pulled out 61-59.
"We put ourselves in Fairfax's bracket, so we hope we keep winning and be fortunate to meet them again and have as good a game as we had last year," Mugiishi said.
The Raiders used last year's Classic as a springboard to an undefeated Interscholastic League of Honolulu season and a state championship and hope facing another top-flight field will prepare them for the regular season.
"Going into our season we should be ready, but hopefully we're not at our peak," Nash said. "Hopefully we're peaking at the latter part of our season."
Iolani returns All-State performers in Low and Nash, but is fairly green at the other positions. Although the Raiders don't have as much height as last year's team, they'll rely on an up-tempo attack to run past opponents this season.
"This year we're a little shorter, but we're faster than last year's team," Low said. "We like to run the break, look for transition points first and set up our offense after that."
Two new faces could be key contributors for Iolani. Ryan Hirata, a transfer from Maryknoll, is an accurate shooter and tough defender, while volleyball standout Sean Carney has surprised coaches with his rebounding ability.
"(Carney) didn't even think about coming out for basketball, but I told him he should try," said Low, Carney's teammate on the Iolani volleyball team. "He's one of our best rebounders and he takes good jump shots."
The tournament festivities will include the annual slam dunk contest after Thursday's and Friday's games and the presentation of the first Ray Wong Team Award.
"We're going to give it to the team that best exemplifies the spirit of 'One Team,' " Mugiishi said of the award named for one of the tournament's long-time sponsors. "We think it's a real significant award. ... I don't think too many tournaments give away a team award for sportsmanlike play."
Iolani is slated to participate in a tournament in Boston later this month. The Raiders depart on Christmas Day to play in the Stop & Shop Holiday Festival, which features seven state champions.
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GAME SCHEDULE
Iolani Prep Classic
All games at Iolani Gym.
Tomorrow
Game 1--Radford vs. Vincent (Milwaukee, Wis.), 3:30 p.m.; Game 2--Kamehameha vs. Archbishop Carroll (Washington, D.C.), 5 p.m. Game 3--Leilehua vs. Miami Christian (Fla.), 6:30 p.m.; Game 4--St. Louis vs. Ben Franklin (Seattle, Wash.), 8 p.m.
Tuesday
Game 5--Radford/Vincent loser vs. St. Louis/Ben Franklin loser, 3:30 p.m.; Game 6--Kamehameha/Archbishop Carroll loser vs. Leilehua/Miami Christian loser, 5 p.m.; Game 7--Scavolini (Italy) vs. Lincoln (Portland, Ore.), 6:30 p.m.; Game 8--Kaimuki vs. Montrose (Rockville, Md.), 8 p.m.
Wednesday
Game 9--Iolani vs. Baldwin, 3:30 p.m.; Game 10--Pearl City vs. Fairfax (Los Angeles, Calif.), 5 p.m.; Game 11--Radford/Vincent winner vs. St. Louis/Ben Franklin winner, 6:30 p.m.; Game 12--Kamehameha/Archbishop Carroll winner vs. Leilehua/Miami Christian winner, 8 p.m.
Thursday
Game 13--Iolani/Baldwin loser vs. Pearl City/Fairfax loser, 3:30 p.m.; Game 14--Scavolini/Lincoln loser vs. Kaimuki/Montrose Christian loser, 5 p.m.; Game 15--Scavolini/Lincoln winner vs. Kaimuki/Montrose Christian winner, 6:30 p.m.; Game 16--Iolani/Baldwin winner vs. Pearl City/Fairfax winner, 8 p.m.
Friday
Game 17--Loser, Game 5 vs. Loser, Game 6, 9:30 a.m.; Game 18--Loser, Game 13 vs. Loser, Game 14, 11 a.m.; Game 19--Winner, Game 5 vs. Winner, Game 6, 12:30 p.m.; Game 20--Winner, Game 13 vs. Winner, Game 14, 2 p.m.; Game 21--Loser, Game 11 vs. Loser, Game 12, 3:30 p.m.; Game 22--Loser, Game 15 vs. Loser, Game 16, 5 p.m.; Game 23--Winner, Game 11 vs. Winner, Game 12, 6:30 p.m.; Game 24--Winner, Game 15 vs. Winner, Game 16, 8 p.m.
Saturday
Game 25--Loser, Game 17 vs. Loser, Game 18, 9:30 a.m.; Game 26--Winner, Game 17 vs. Winner, Game 18, 11 a.m.; Game 27--Loser, Game 19 vs. Loser, Game 20, 12:30 p.m.; Game 28--Consolation final, Winner, Game 19 vs. Winner, Game 20, 2 p.m.; Game 29--Seventh Place, Loser, Game 21 vs. Loser, Game 22, 3:30 p.m.; Game 30--Fifth Place, Winner, Game 21 vs. Winner, Game 22, 5 p.m.; Game 31--Third Place, Loser, Game 23 vs. Loser, Game 24, 6:30 p.m.; Game 32--Championship, Winner, Game 23 vs. Winner, Game 24, 8 p.m.
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