STAR-BULLETIN / DECEMBER 2002 Bobby Nash, Iolani center

Iolani to open defense of title

The No. 1-seeded Raiders are the team
to beat when the state tournament tips off

---

By Nick Abramo and Tim Crouse
nabramo@starbulletin.com, tcrouse@starbulletin.com

There's one question begging to be answered at the 2003 Hawaiian Airlines Boys State Basketball Championship Tournament.

Does defending champion Iolani (14-0) have company or are the Raiders in their own league?

Hawaiian Airlines Boys State Championship All games at Blaisdell Arena Seeded teams: 1. Iolani (14-0) 2. Maui (14-0) 3. Keaau (13-0) 4. Kalaheo (11-3). Tomorrow Game 1: Leilehua vs. Waimea 2:15 p.m. Game 2: Waiakea vs. Kamehameha 4 p.m. Game 3: Baldwin vs. Mililani 5:45 p.m. Game 4: Saint Louis vs. Kaimuki 7:30 p.m. Thursday Game 5: Losers of Games 2 and 3 12:30 p.m. Game 6: Keaau vs. Winner Game 4 2:15 p.m. Game 7: Maui vs. Winner Game 1 4 p.m. Game 8: Iolani vs. Winner Game 3 5:45 p.m. Game 9: Kalaheo vs. Winner Game 2 7:30 p.m.

The top-seeded Raiders bring a 29-game winning streak into the tournament, which starts tomorrow with four games at Blaisdell Arena.

"Every year we try to be the best we can," Iolani coach Mark Mugiishi said. "We've been lucky that we've had a lot of talented players. This year especially, our depth is tremendously good.

"I was a little worried. Last year we had three fantastic seniors who all graduated. As good as our young talent was, you always worry how they're going to respond trying to replace those guys. But they've done a great job, kind of by committee."

Iolani 6-foot-7 senior center Bobby Nash was second in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu in scoring at 14.6 points a game, while junior guard Derrick Low was third at 12.9.

Iolani didn't breeze through the regular season, though, and needed to fight off Saint Louis and Punahou in overtime. The tough, physical Crusaders are the type of team that presents the most problems for Iolani.

"We do have an Achilles heel in that we're not real big and we're not real physical, so when we meet teams that are big and physical we have to be smart the way we play," Mugiishi said.

Kaimuki, the Oahu Interscholastic Association's third-place team, is another big squad that plays a physical brand of basketball. The Bulldogs (11-2) meet ILH runner-up Saint Louis (11-3) in tomorrow's nightcap at 7:30.

The Crusaders showcase a lineup of 10 players who also suited up for the football team. Coach Delbert Tengan likes to call them basketball players who also happen to play football, instead of the other way around.

Jason Rivers, a 6-3 swingman who does a little of everything on the court, and Wilson Afoa, a dominant 6-3 post player, are among Saint Louis' leaders.

Kaimuki's powerful 6-1 center Daniel Tautofi has been a driving force behind his team's success, along with 6-1 guard Junior Maiava and unsung 6-2 forward Nick Milan.

Iolani and the other seeded teams -- Maui (12-0), Kalaheo (11-3) and tourney newcomer Keaau (13-0) --open Thursday.

"The season has gone pretty well for us," Maui coach Bill Naylor said. "Including preseason games and tournaments, we were 26-0.

"We play an up-tempo game, get the ball down the floor. And we have some pretty big guys who can run the floor as well. We also have a pretty decent slow-down game and use it when we need it."

The Sabers' front line of 6-4 Gene Rivera, 6-4 Maafu Finau and 6-5 Tevita Finau combine for the majority of the team's scoring. The Finau boys are transfers from Lahainaluna.

"To be the best, we've got to beat the best," Naylor said. "And we'll be ready to play whoever (the winner of tomorrow's 2:15 p.m. Leilehua vs. Waimea winner) on Thursday. Whoever wins the tournament is going to have to be really hungry; a seeded team has to win three big games."

Leilehua (11-2) has regrouped since its loss to Kalaheo (11-3) in the OIA championship game.

"We've got a second life and we'll be ready," Mules coach Keith Spencer said. "And you never know. Nobody thought we'd make it as far as the OIA championship game."

Kalaheo coach Pete Smith pointed to Iolani as a heavy favorite.

"With Low and Nash and the team they've got around those two guys, you've got to say they've got a good shot," Smith said. "For anybody to beat them, they'll have to play really well and have Iolani not play too well.

"I don't know too much about Maui, but everybody's been talking about them as being a serious contender."

Sam Wilhoite, the state's other 6-7 player, is at the heart of the Kalaheo defense, and guards Zane Cabral and Theodore Fujita-Lukachyk were two of the Mustangs' clutch performers in the playoffs.

Smith and Iolani's Mugiishi have won three state titles each, and the Mustangs and Raiders have played in the last two title games.

Iolani dethroned Kalaheo a year ago with a one-point victory.

Kamehameha (12-4), which earned the ILH's third berth in a play-in tournament, is a solid dark horse.

The Warriors were highly competitive in the league with an effective defense that kept teams from piling up points. They're coached by Darryl Gabriel, who led University to the state title in 1988.

Kamehameha opens tomorrow at 4 p.m. against Waiakea (9-4), which lost to Keaau 63-61 in the Big Island title game, despite six 3-pointers from guard Tyler Nishimura.

Waiakea is lucky to be in the states. Twelve players were dismissed from the team early in the season for suspected alcohol use. They were later reinstated by the school's principal.

Keaau got balanced scoring in the title game as guards Sunny Amisone and Roland Benevides and forward Josh Cabreros each had 13 points. Ken Harris' putback proved to be the game winner.

In another game tomorrow, Baldwin (10-4) tips off against Mililani (9-5) at 5:45 p.m.

The state tournament continues through Saturday's 8 p.m. championship game.

---

Hawaii School Web Sites