It's getting hard to figure out the Kalaheo basketball team this year. Mustangs are still a threat
in the OIA despite 3 lossesBy Nick Abramo
nabramo@starbulletin.comA perennial Oahu Interscholastic Association powerhouse, the Mustangs (5-3) started 3-0, but have gone 2-3 since with losses to Castle, Kaimuki and Moanalua.
But one of Kalaheo's two recent wins came against previously undefeated Roosevelt.
Rough Riders' head John Chung had a simple explanation for his team's loss to the Mustangs.
"We knew they had a couple of good shooters, but it turned out they have a lot of good ones, and even with guys in their face, they were draining it," Chung said. "And (post) Sam (Wilhoite) played one of the best games I've seen him play. He was making 15-foot bankers."
Chung also said Kalaheo easily controlled the boards against his smaller Roosevelt squad.
"We knew Kalaheo had two losses coming into the game, but we knew we were in for a tough battle," he said. "When you play only 10 games, you never know how the kids are going to come out, whether they're ready to play or not."
The Rough Riders (7-1) are tied for first place in the OIA East Division with Kaimuki and Castle. They visit the Knights tonight.
Chargers eye state berth: The Pearl City basketball team has quietly beaten all of its OIA West opponents so far this year.
The Chargers' biggest test comes tonight at Radford in a showdown of 8-0 teams.
"I had this same team when I was coaching junior varsity and we went to the semifinals," Pearl City coach Lionel Villarmia said. "They can play. We just have to keep working hard to get better. We had two goals at the beginning of the season. Our first was to make the playoffs. We took care of that two weeks ago.
"Our next goal is to make the states. After that, whatever happens, happens."
Martinez expected in April: New Moanalua football coach Arnold Martinez plans to move here in April, but he'll be visiting off and on until then.
Martinez is the athletic director and assistant football coach at James Hogan High School in Vallejo, Calif.
"I'm extremely excited about the opportunity," Martinez said in a phone interview. "There's nothing but an upside as to the potential and support to build a quality program."
Hogan High's offense is a Wing-T formation, but Martinez doubts he'll run that here.
"I prefer a basic pro-set but with multiple formations like the spread or the bunch. It can really spread a defense out or keep them guessing," he said. "On defense, I like to be pretty aggressive with lots of different coverages."
His wife, Charlene Martinez, grew up in Honolulu and is a St. Francis graduate.
Charlene and the couple's 18-month-old daughter have already relocated to Oahu.
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