[ HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS ]

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Kalaheo keeps coach
smiling with bye as
OIA playoffs near

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By Paul Honda
Special to the Star-Bulletin

He saves his smile for after the game, Chico Furtado does.

After a 75-49 shellacking of playoff-bound McKinley last night, the fifth-ranked Mustangs heard the truth and nothing but the truth from their mentor.

"Every night, it's a different guy. Last time (against Kahuku), Theo (Fujita) stepped up. Tonight, it's William (Elliott)," Furtado said of the senior forward, who scored 14 second-quarter points during a huge Kalaheo run. 

Kalaheo finished the regular season 10-1, first in the Oahu Interscholastic Association East. McKinley is 7-4 and holds the sixth -- and final -- playoff berth from the East.

The league playoffs begin Thursday at sites to be determined. Kalaheo gets a first-round bye -- the only reward for winning the regular-season title -- and hosts a quarterfinal matchup Friday.

Quarterfinal winners will claim the OIA's four state tournament berths.

For Furtado, any playoff scenario is worth fretting about. "We can't take anything for granted. We've been in both positions before. Last year, we put a team out," he said of Kalaheo's stunning run to the OIA title in Pete Smith's final season at the helm.

There's no question the Mustangs are peaking at the right time. Big Sam Wilhoite led the Mustangs with 18 points and a dominant effort under the glass. McKinley, which often played without a player over 5-foot-10, struggled to get points in the paint.

Wilhoite, a 6-7 senior, faced a 2-3 zone for much of the night, but still managed to score 16 points before the fourth quarter. Elliott, a 5-10 senior, got hot in the second quarter. He pumped in 14 of his 16 during that stanza, including four treys over the Tigers' zone.

Abel Werner scored 17 points and Robert Holder added 11 to pace McKinley. First-year head coach Bob Morikuni huddled with his starters at the end of his bench for a chat just before the game ended.

"I just told 'em to keep their heads up. Kalaheo's a good team, but we might face 'em in the second round if we can get past the first game," he said. "Now we know what we can and can't do."

McKinley stayed relatively close for one quarter, but struggled to shoot effectively against Kalaheo's man-to-man defense. Getting second shots was nearly impossible. "Sam is a monster in there," Morikuni said. "We hopefully can step up the pressure if we play them again. We were off, shooting tonight. This is our first real beating this season, and I think we can learn from it."

The Tigers were as close as 9-7 before Kalaheo took control. Fujita, who tallied nine points, drilled a trey from the right wing to help the Mustangs take a 16-9 lead going into the second quarter.

Kalaheo went on an 11-3 run to open the second stanza. David Moore scored on a pair of drives, and Elliott rained in a 3-pointer from the left wing as Kalaheo opened a 27-12 lead with 4:26 left in the half.

At one point, Elliott scored eight points in a row, including a layup off a steal at midcourt just before intermission. Kalaheo led 38-17 at the break.

Furtado employed his reserves liberally throughout the second half. McKinley, which got no closer than 17 the rest of the way, was unable to contend with Kalaheo's perimeter shooting. That opened up the low post for Wilhoite, who scored easily with nice entry passes. He also picked the Tiger zone apart with deft passing from the high post.

If the Mustangs are even-keeled and workmanlike for 32 minutes, it may be due to the way Furtado manages doses of intensity and basketball IQ. Feisty and demanding before the final buzzer, he is eloquent and nurturing afterward.

He can also be thankful.

"After that big win against Kahuku, we didn't have the greatest practices," he said. "It was almost like we relaxed a little, so I was concerned, but they did a good job tonight."

At McKinley H.S. gym

Kalaheo (10-1)	16	21	17	21	--	75
McKinley (7-4)	9	8	16	16	--	49

KALAHEO--Elias Ayau 0, Chris Tumaneng 3, Matt Nakashima 4, Theo Fujita 9, Kahua Hollinger 2, William Elliott 16, Neil Bowers 8, Joshua Perry 2, David Moore 6, Clifton Pires 2, Jason Tanaka 3, Daniel Phair 2, Sam Wilhoite 18.
MCKINLEY--Mark Nakatsuka 3, Abel Werner 17, Kapena Quisano 7, Brandon Barbasa 0, Iakopo Taumua 3, Robert Holder 11, Golden Lawrence 2, Josh Valdez 5, Bobby Shimabukuro 1, Chris Quiocho 0.
3-point goals -- Kalaheo 5 (Elliott 4, Fujita), McKinley 4 (Werner 2, Quisano, Holder).
Junior varsity -- Kalaheo 51, McKinley 37

Kaimuki 55, No. 8 Kahuku 50: Dexter Tautofi and Nick Milan each scored 17 points as the Bulldogs upset the 8th-ranked Red Raiders to finish in a tie for third-place in the OIA East at 8-3.

At Kahuku H.S. gym

Kaimuki (8-3)	13	16	12	14	--	55
Kahuku (8-3)	13	15	6	16	--	50

KAIMUKI--Davey Nguyen 0, Kekoa Onaga 9, Dexter Tautofi 17, Isiah Ano 2, Jimmy Miyasaka 5, Tone Faasoa 5, Nick Milan 17.
KAHUKU--Hapaki Kaululaau 7, Waika Carvalho 4, Jordan Casey 2, Al Afalava 4, Clinton Parks 0, Bronson Ponciano-Ahue 2, Walker Vave 0, Shosei Yamauchi 12, Tevita Finau 9, Okesene Ale 7, Spencer Hafoka 0, Toriano Taulogo 3.
3-point goals -- Kaimuki 2 (Onaga, Miyasaka), Kahuku 3 (Finau, Ale, Kaululaau).
Junior varsity -- Kahuku 50, Kaimuki 46

No. 10 Castle 69, Farrington 46: All 14 Knights players scored as Castle defeated the Governors to steamroll into the OIA playoffs, finishing with a 9-2 record, second in the OIA East.

At Farrington H.S. gym

Castle (9-2)	17	12	22	18	--	69
Farrington (2-9)	10	9	9	18	--	46

CASTLE--Bryan Pelangka 1, Brad Guillermo 1, Jonathan Horner 13, Junior Mansanas 9, Scott Keiter-Charles 1, Bryce Kalauokaaea 9, Jordan Bruhn 10, Isaac Adams 6, Antone Watanabe 1, Victor Clore 3, Blaze Soares 4, Scott Argue 4, Herbert Lee 5, Mao Lefiti 2.
FARRINGTON--Jay-ar Mariano 3, Jermaine Rabago 0, NC Dela Cruz 16, Truong Nguyen 8, Dave Viloria 5, Devan Selman 1, Roi Alzate 4, Ferdinand Morales 7, Micah Kalingo 0, Kuaika Kamano 2.
3-point goals -- Castle 0, Farrington 5 (Dela Cruz 3, Mariano, Nguyen).
Junior varsity -- Farrington 79, Castle 49

OIA West

No. 3 Mililani 78, Nanakuli 57: The Trojans became the only OIA team to run the table in the regular season, finishing a perfect 10-0 with the win over Nanakuli.

At Nanakuli H.S. gym

Mililani (10-0)	17	26	18	17	--	78
Nanakuli (6-4)	16	15	14	12	--	57

MILILANI--Blaine Kanno 0, Lorenzo Abernathy 0, Maka Kahoano 0, Puna Neumann 24, Scott Neumann 6, Stevie Vie 0, Aaron Kanno 14, Ryan Shular 3, Clarence Gray 8, Charles Richie 0, Andrew Tokumi 0, Alex Patykula 7, Jonovan Santos 4, Nick Rogers 12.
NANAKULI--Kyle Beck 5, James Chandler 19, Alex Distajo 0, Jimmy Afamasaga 4, Albert Distajo 7, David Balicao 2, Justin Luavasa 6, Jaycee Alapai 0, Rolando Celes 6, Alan Kalahiki-Pilialoha 4, Alika Enos 0, Keala Watson 4.
3-point goals -- Mililani 6 (Kanno 3, P. Neumann 2, Patykula), Nanakuli 2 (Distajo, Chandler).
Junior varsity -- Mililani 62, Nanakuli 49.

Radford 54, Waialua 30: The Rams built a 30-10 halftime lead before coasting to their seventh victory in the OIA West.

Tauran Moore led the Rams with a game-high 17 points, while Brandon Macadangdang led Waialua with 13.

At Waialua H.S. gym

Radford (7-3)	16	16	14	8	--	54
Waialua (0-10)	6	4	12	8	--	30

RADFORD--Will Kerins 4, Ricardo Shipley 4, Jordan Rellin 0, Greg Solomon 6, Tauran Moore 17, Kyle Blair 0, Mike Davis 9, James Herron 5, Justin Quinones 2, Joseph Brundidge 4, Jeff Geimer 3.
WAIALUA--Roldan Dacuicui 0, Kelson Silva 0, Glenn Rubio 0, Mark Langaman 0, Joseph Gudoy 0, Joshua Miller 0, Lawrence Sumaoang 7, Charles Bell 4, Marlon Dela Cruz 2, Brandon Macadangdang 13, Geronimo Madarang 0, Theo-Lamar Hina 4.
3-point goals -- Radford 2 (Davis, Moore), Waialua 1 (Sumaoang).
Junior varsity -- Waialua 53, Radford 52

ILH basketball

Junior varsity I
Maryknoll 63, Lutheran 25
Kamehameha 55, Saint Louis 40
Saint Louis 55, Iolani 47
Junior varsity II
Word of Life 53, Mid-Pacific 50, OT