Defending champs
prepare for soccer seasons
One football season is done.The other -- soccer, as we call it in America -- is just starting.
After weeks of practice and some preseason contests, the Mililani boys team officially starts its quest for a fourth state championship in a row this Friday in an Oahu Interscholastic Association opener against Waianae.
"It's my 10th year coaching and we're trying to get one (state championship) every year, and we've been lucky the last three years," said Jeff Yamamato, who will share head-coaching duties with longtime assistant Steve McGehee this season. "Winning the state tournament is always one of our goals."
Goalkeeper Darren Smith, center midfielders Brent Murakami and Justin Kim, and fullback Paul Tojo are among the Trojans' key returnees.
"We lost nine seniors, but we have some experienced players back," Yamamoto said.
"Our strength is at midfield, and our challenge is to look for replacements for the players we lost."
Star-Bulletin Player of the Year Whitney Shimatsu, a forward, is one of those players who graduated.
Smith, an all-state keeper a year ago, was a wide receiver, punter and kicker for the Mililani football team that qualified for the state tournament.
Yamamoto said a lot of teams have a shot at making the state tournament and taking a run at the title, including Punahou, Iolani, Kamehameha, Pac-Five, Pearl City, Kapolei, Moanalua, Kaiser and Aiea.
Defending state girls champion Punahou doesn't start its regular season until next month, but coach Jorge Barbosa can't wait for a highly competitive Interscholastic League of Honolulu chase.
"We're not going to be as powerful on offense as we were a year ago without (Star-Bulletin Player of the Year) Adria Campbell (now playing for Southern Methodist)," he said.
Forward Ashley Collins may pick up some of the scoring slack, however.
"She has power and speed and I think she can do the job," Barbosa said.
Punahou's other key returnees include goalkeeper Allison Lipsher, sweeper Kelsey Baker and center midfielders Rachael Lau and Allison Tsuchida.
"Getting through the ILH is key," Barbosa said.
"People don't give the league enough credit. Winning the states was great, and we're not going to give that back, but I think our biggest accomplishment is winning the ILH two years in a row.
"If we can get out of the ILH with a title then we'll have a darn good chance at the states."
Barbosa sees the usual suspects as contenders for OIA (and possibly state tournament) honors -- Mililani, Pearl City and Aiea.
The Buffanblu won the Castle-Leilehua tournament final 1-0 over Kamehameha.
With six key players on various trips to the mainland, Punahou lost 2-0 to the Warriors in the Moanalua tournament semifinals.
"Kamehameha is a team with a lot of speed, a very gifted squad," Barbosa said. "I've also heard a lot of good things about Iolani, so it should be a fun season and a tight race between the three of us again."
The Warriors beat the Raiders in a shootout in the title game of a recent tournament on Maui, Barbosa said.
"Too bad only one ILH team gets a state berth," he added. "But that's beyond our control."
Kahuku solidifies rankings: Kahuku finished its football season at 14-0 to remain at No. 5 in the Tony Poll national rankings.
The Red Raiders, who beat Saint Louis 27-26 in the state Division I title game last Friday, also stood firm at No. 2 in the West Region.
In addition, Kahuku entered the USA Today Super 25 at No. 20.
The final polls will be released later this month.
Some teams in the rankings haven't finished their seasons yet.
Owls have new golf coach: Former Punahou athlete Carl Hunter is the new golf coach at Mid-Pacific.
He previously coached at the junior varsity and intermediate levels.
A Triple-A baseball player in the San Francisco Giants organization in the 1970s, Hunter will be assisted by his son, Trevor Hunter, and Yasuo Torita.
Hoops tourneys: Lots of basketball tournaments are under way around the state this month, including the Mid-Pacific Winter Classic (Dec. 11-13), the Iolani Classic (Dec. 15-20) and the Punahou Holiday Classic (Dec. 26-30).
Key Raiders out: Two Kauai High School boys soccer players who were instrumental in leading the Red Raiders to a state tourney berth a year ago are injured.
Midfielder Ross Brandeburg has a broken collarbone and will be out eight weeks. Justin Toulon, another midfielder, has a broken fibula and will miss a month.
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Athlete of the Week
BARRY MARKOWITZ / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-BULLETIN
Toriano Taulogo, above, Kahuku football: Returned a punt 62 yards to set up the winning touchdown in the Red Raiders' state Division I championship game victory over Saint Louis. He also had eight tackles, including a sack, and an interception.
Honor Roll
Football
>> Darren Magalogo, Kahuku: Scored two TDs, including the game-winner, in the Red Raiders' victory over Saint Louis.
>> Paea Vaimoui, Kahuku: Rushed for 131 yards on 17 carries and a touchdown in the win over Saint Louis.
>> B.J. Beatty, Kahuku: Had three tackles for loss in the win over Saint Louis.
>> Max Fairclough, Kahuku: Made six tackles in the win over Saint Louis.
>> Desmond Hanohano, Saint Louis: Caught six passes for 116 yards in the loss to Kahuku.
>> B.J. Batts, Saint Louis: Rushed for 101 yards on 23 carries in the loss to Kahuku.
>> Dylan Moss, Saint Louis: Made 11 tackles and recovered a fumble against Kahuku.
>> Gabriel Vierra, Saint Louis: Recorded nine tackles and recovered a fumble vs. Kahuku.
>> Tyson Alualu, Saint Louis: Made nine tackles against Kahuku.
>> Nuipitane Nahalea, Saint Louis: Had eight tackles, including a sack, against Kahuku.
>> Brandon Puckett, Aiea: Kicked a 37-yard field goal in a 9-7 state Division II championship game victory over Damien.
>> Alden DeMello, Aiea: Caught the winning 34-yard TD pass from Kali Kuia in the win over Damien.
>> Lawrence Leovao, Aiea: Had eight tackles, including three sacks, in the win over Damien.
>> C.J. Tausaga, Aiea: Had six tackles, an interception and three pass breakups against Damien.
>> Andrew Canoy, Damien: Caught six passes for 102 yards and a touchdown in the loss to Aiea.
>> Ranson DeCosta, Damien: Rushed for 92 yards in the loss to Aiea.
>> Soane Sevelo, Damien: Had nine tackles, including four for loss, in the loss to Aiea.
>> Kealoa Pilares, Damien: Made six tackles and intercepted a pass against Aiea.
>> Fehi Sevelo, Damien: Had six tackles and an interception against Aiea.
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