Pac-Five's successful soccer season won't be rewarded with a postseason opportunity. Hard work translates
into a successful soccer
season for Pac-FiveBy Nick Abramo
nabramo@starbulletin.comThe Wolfpack (8-1-3) are in second place in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu standings, not far behind first-place Punahou (10-0-2) and just ahead of third-place Kamehameha (8-3-1).
But Pac-Five isn't eligible because it doesn't have at least 11 players from one school on its squad. The Wolfpack have five players from Maryknoll and four from Lutheran, and those figures represent the most from any single school, according to head boys coach Paul Fu.
"Just because we're not eligible doesn't mean we don't want to do well," Fu said. "We're looking at Kamehameha as a big game, and if we win, we might finish second."
The Wolfpack face the Warriors Saturday at noon at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex.
The ILH champion heads to the state tournament and the second-place team meets the Maui Interscholastic League champion in a play-in game.
Pac-Five already has two more wins than last year when it went 6-5-1.
"It's a matter of the good attitude on the part of the boys," Fu said. "Their focus is on the game plan and working hard in practice, and that hard work overflows into how they play the game."
Forward Chris Wittig and midfielder Alex Wong have been instrumental in the team's success.
Fu said he's been receiving consistent play from halfbacks Jeremy Wittig, Justin Faota, Cody Semenara and Will Bow.
"And our goalkeeper, Vito Higgins, is one of the better keepers in the ILH," the third-year coach said.
Close one: Roosevelt won a battle of Oahu Interscholastic Association basketball unbeatens when Bryson Borges hit a jumper in the last second of overtime to nip Kaimuki 50-48 last week.
Roosevelt coach John Chung had all good things to say about the Bulldogs.
"Kaimuki is definitely one of the better teams in the state," Chung said. "They've got size and they've got shooters. They're disciplined and they run their offense really well.
"We're coming together, but as far as us being a state-tournament caliber team, I don't know. We haven't blown anyone out yet, and we're just getting by."
Borges is one of the Rough Riders' team leaders, along with Anthony Holyfield.
The 6-foot Holyfield is the tallest starter, and 6-1 reserve Danton Balbas is the tallest player on the team.
Kaimuki coach Stephen Lee was impressed with Roosevelt, too.
"He (Chung) has them playing to the best of their ability," Lee said.
"His style of basketball complements their ability."
The Rough Riders like to spread out their offense and drive to the hoop in an effort to draw fouls, according to Chung. They also rely heavily on their hustle and defense.
Roosevelt (7-0) leads Castle (6-0) by a half-game in the OIA East, while the Bulldogs (5-1) aren't far behind.
ILH fishing anyone?: University High's Reesene Choy and Kristen Bukes were on the bench for a softball game last week against Kamehameha, but that doesn't mean they weren't valuable to the team's cause.
They may have saved the school some money by fishing out numerous balls that were hit foul into the stream adjacent to the field at Ala Wai Park.
Choy and Bukes used a net attached to a pole, a device similar to a pool skimmer.
Sounds easy?
Not against the current, which shifted the ball downstream and from side to side. The two ball-savers had to keep crossing a bridge to reach the preferred side before lifting out the balls.
"We need a longer stick," Bukes said. "It's really hard to keep walking over to both sides."
Said Choy: "What we need is a taller fence, so the balls don't go in the stream in the first place."
Off to the mainland: Seabury Hall volleyball standout Lauren Powley has orally committed to Mesa State in Colorado.
Powley was a Star-Bulletin third-team all-state middle blocker.
Wrapping up the KIF: Two Kauai Interscholastic Federation teams qualified for state tournaments last week.
Pat Baniaga's Waimea softball team clinched the KIF championship with an 11-1 regular-season victory over Kapaa, while Blanche Arakaki's Kauai High School soccer team wrapped up the KIF girls soccer title.
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Athletes of the Week
BOYS
>> Bryson Borges, Roosevelt basketball: Scored the game-winning basket as time ran out in overtime as the Rough Riders remained undefeated with a win over Kaimuki. He also scored 21 points in a win over McKinley.
GIRLS
>> Miki Asamura, Mililani softball: Pitched her second perfect game of the season with 10 strikeouts in a 3-0 victory over Pearl City.
Honor Roll
BASKETBALL
>> Bobby Nash, Iolani: Hit for 20 points as the Raiders beat Mid-Pacific.
>> Francis Caliboso, Waipahu: Scored 25 points to push the Marauders past Campbell.
>> Ranson DeCosta, Damien: Poured in 27 points as the Monarchs upset Saint Louis.
>> Daniel Tautofi, Kaimuki: Lit up for 25 points to lead the Bulldogs over Kalaheo.
>> Jordan Montgomery, Kailua: Came through with 29 points for the Surfriders in their victory over Kalani.
>> Quin Ah You, Kahuku: Hit for 22 points as the Red Raiders tripped Farrington.
>> Charles Seanior, Radford: Scored 22 points as the Rams remained undefeated and sent Leilehua to its first loss.
>> Andrew Talaeai, Leilehua: Had a game-high 23 points in the loss to Radford.
>> Zach Tollefson, Iolani: Scored five points in OT as the Raiders held off Punahou.
BOYS SOCCER
>> Aaron Colon, Leilehua: Scored two goals in the Mules' 3-2 victory over Aiea.
>> Brett Asato, Aiea: Had both goals in a loss to Leilehua.
>> Ricky Shinn Pearl City: Scored a total of four goals and added four assists as the Chargers beat Radford and Waialua.
GIRLS SOCCER
>> Kristin Patterson, Kailua: Popped in the only goal in a 1-0 victory over Kahuku.
>> Krisha Kai and Deisha Vendiola, Kahuku: Both players had a goal in the Red Raiders' 2-1 victory over Castle to clinch first place in the OIA Eastern Division.
>> Ashley Kanda and Lindsey Watanabe, Castle: Kanda stopped 14 shots and Watanabe had the only goal in a 1-0 win over Kalaheo.
>> Heather Peterson, Kapolei: Notched three goals in the Hurricanes' victory over Campbell.
>> Sam Kalalau, Waianae: Drove home the only goal in a 1-0 win over Waipahu.
>> India Soo, Kamehameha: Fired home three goals for the Warriors in a 5-0 win over Pac-Five.
SOFTBALL
>> Sarah Weisskopf and Lindsay Olmstead, Punahou: Weisskopf hurled a three-hitter to beat rival Iolani, while Olmstead tossed a one-hitter in a win over La Pietra.
>> Liane Horiuchi and Brandi Peiler, Kamehameha: Horiuchi went 3-for-3 with a grand slam as the Warriors beat La Pietra, while Peiler had a homer and 4 RBIs in a victory over Maryknoll.
>> Tanisha Milca, Kailua: Went 3-for-4 with a double and five RBIs as the Surfriders rolled over Kahuku.
>> Kelli Tanabe, Roosevelt: Had a 2-for-4 day at the plate with a two-run home run in a 6-1 victory over Kalani.
>> Lauren Yap, Nanakuli: Went 2-for-3 with a home run, a double and three RBIs in a win over Aiea.
SWIMMING
>> Keenan Anaya, Kauai: Swam to wins in the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly in a Kauai Interscholastic Federation meet.
>> Jeremey Albano, Kapaa: Earned wins in the 500 freestyle and the 100 breaststroke at the KIF event.
>> Kelii Akana-Kaaihue, Kapaa: Was victorious at the KIF event in the 200 freestyle and the 100 backstroke.
>> Katelyn Umetsu, Waimea: Swam to KIF event wins in the 500 freestyle and the 200 individual medley.
>> Erin Nakamoto, Summer Nakasato, Ivy Yi and Sakaya Okura, Kalani: With a time of 4:17.78, broke the 400 medley relay record at the OIA Relay Championships.
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