[ HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL ]
Girls hoops deep in OIA
There has been a perceptible change in a sport that, for years, was dominated by the Interscholastic League of Honolulu.
Three of last year's four semifinalists in the state girls basketball tournament came from the public-school Oahu Interscholastic Association: Kahuku, Moanalua and Farrington.
Of those three, Kahuku is a strong contender not only to repeat as OIA champion, but to battle for the state championship. The Lady Raiders, with a plethora of returnees, including two players named to the McDonald's All-America nominee list from Hawaii, went 11-1 in preseason. Their slate includes wins over ILH favorite Punahou and Big Island Interscholastic Federation defending champion Konawaena.
The OIA favorites remain the same. Defending champion Moanalua lost some key contributors, including leading scorer Patti Hardimon, and has a new head coach. Farrington still has cornerstone center Laosamoa Misa-Uli.
Kalaheo, the league's most storied girls basketball program, also has the ingredients for a title run. However, all-league forward Taylor Smith has struggled with a foot injury and is due for an MRI today.
"I just hope it's a bruise or sprain," veteran coach Chico Furtado said.
And in the OIA East, where questions abounded about a dropoff in talent, the answers have been resounding. The dogfight for last year's six playoff berths will be a brawl this time around for the paltry sum of four playoff spots.
With the birth of the Division II state tourney, last year's bottom dwellers get an opportunity to qualify for postseason play. This could leave several middle-of-the-pack OIA Division I teams on the outside looking in. Perhaps even more distressing for coaches is the fact that only four teams qualify for the playoffs in each division.
Predetermined Division II teams can still qualify for the D-I OIA playoffs if they finish among the top four in their division. Teams like Farrington, Kaiser and McKinley could finish fifth and sixth in the OIA East and have no postseason play.
In last year's playoff action, the East went 6-0 against the West, lending credence to those who steadfastly argue that the East is better from top to bottom.
"The East is still strong. With only four state berths in Division I, it's going to be tougher," Pearl City coach Mike Morton said of the six berths available to the OIA last year. "If you finish third or fourth in the West, you're probably going to have to face Kalaheo or Kahuku."
Most coaches pick Kahuku to finish first in the OIA. The Lady Raiders are athletic and much more seasoned.
In the past, they have proved vulnerable against dominant post players. Misa-Uli led Farrington over Kahuku in the OIA semifinals last season, 56-46. It may not show this early since Misa-Uli just won another wrestling crown, but by the playoffs, Farrington could stand in Kahuku's way again.
The Lady Raiders also have a propensity to turn the ball over. They averaged more than 20 turnovers per game at the state tournament, yet found ways to overcome the giveaways. In a win over Konawaena at the Punahou Wahine Spring Classic, center Latoya Wily was double- and triple-teamed incessantly. She scored just three points, but Kahuku patiently found open shooters and won 51-45.
Monarisa Ale showed signs of becoming the best player statewide in that game. Her 16 points were huge, but the 5-foot-11 senior's quickness, long arms and newfound consistency of intensity are invaluable as the point man on Kahuku's full-court press.
That said, the East and West races aren't set in stone. Here's a closer look.
West Division
The season came to an abrupt end for both Pearl City and Aiea in May. Pearl City went 10-0 through the West, but lost to Farrington, 46-45, in the quarterfinals.Aiea, the division's runner-up, lost to McKinley, 53-25 in the quarterfinals.
This time around, Mililani is among the favorites. Ceslie Ma'afala, a transfer from McKinley, anchors the middle. First-year coach Scott DeSilva is no rookie, having assisted at other programs for years, and the Lady Trojans showed in preseason that they will likely surpass last year's 5-5 regular-season mark.
Kapolei could contend for the West title. Junior center Jerrell Taituave, at 6 feet, has the physical tools to become one of the best players in the state. And what of Pearl City? The Chargers return enough talent to become a contender, but even with center Marci Lobendahn hustling in the paint, Pearl City has struggled through preseason.
The Chargers were routed by Farrington, 50-31, at the Lady Trojan Invitational less than a week after Misa-Uli returned to the Lady Governors. It could be an omen, or perhaps a wake-up call, for a squad that was 10-0 in OIA West regular-season play last year. Desiree Blaney, a senior point guard, returned from Italy and is making a tremendous difference for Morton's Chargers.
"If we didn't have her, we'd be in deep trouble," he said.
Aiea has struggled through preseason, but will likely contend for a playoff berth. So will Campbell, Radford and Leilehua, which boasts one of the best players in the league, multi-sport standout Pikake Nutter-Gaudet.
Radford, with four returning starters, could make a strong run in the wide-open West. Tereva Moore, a sophomore center, and senior guard Lia Mickey lead the Lady Rams.
Waialua, with one of its better teams in recent years, may also surprise this spring. Shanay Coloma and Misty Maxwell lead a Bulldog squad that has improved. Case in point: a 46-25 win over Aiea at the Lady Menehune Peek Tournament.
East Division
Woe be to the coaches of the East, for there are simply not enough castles to house their playoff hopes. Nor is there enough Advil to quell their stress.How rough does it get in the East? Consider this: three perennial playoff teams, Kaimuki, Roosevelt and Kalani, didn't even qualify last year. Kaimuki, of course, had Dalia Solia, who now plays for the University of Hawaii.
Last year's regular-season playoff qualifiers were in this order: Moanalua, Kahuku, McKinley, Farrington, Kalaheo and Kaiser. Unlike most leagues, where there is some semblance of reshuffling, the East only got better from top to bottom. Every one of last year's playoff teams in this division returned a high percentage of starters.
That gives fans a higher level of parity and competition this spring.
At Moanalua, first-year head coach Rick Gonsalves will lean heavily on a mix of seasoned seniors and a youthful back court. Kepua Lee, one of 10 McDonald's All-America nominees from Hawaii, moved from the point to the post this season. The senior has as much savvy as anyone statewide when it comes to getting inside and maximizing scoring opportunities.
Kahuku, of course, isn't just about Wily and Ale. Karla Tailele and Camilla Ah-Hoy are integral parts of Kahuku's relentless defensive schemes. With second-year head coach Wendy Anae adding some new wrinkles, like a 1-3-1 zone, the Lady Raiders will only be better this year. They'll have to overcome the loss of Artevia Wily, who suffered a knee injury last Thursday against Waiakea.
McKinley could be the dark horse to challenge for the league title. Though the Lady Tigers lost Ma'afala, they gained freshman Chelsie Sato, who is capable of scoring 20 points every night. Sato is quick, but she is also a strong rebounder with good instincts on the low post.
The addition of Sato gives veteran coach Jesse Victorino a valuable weapon to go with senior guards Bre Carson, Meagan Miyasaka and Chantal Yadao.
Farrington, meanwhile, could hardly wait for the end of wrestling season. Misa-Uli's presence is enough to alter defensive tactics for any Lady Governor foes. At 5-10, 175 pounds, with unmatched strength and agility, Misa-Uli is also one of her team's vocal leaders, aptly nicknamed Sunshine. The two-time state wrestling champion has always said basketball is her true passion.
Kalaheo has the personnel to make a serious run. Smith, another McDonald's All-America nominee, prepared for the hoops season by playing volleyball for the first time. If she has to take a break, classmate Shaina Siliga will have a bigger role. The senior guard normally provides complementary scoring with a good mid-range jump shot, and she made five 3-pointers in a win over Saint Joseph on Thursday.
Freshman Shannadee Canon is among a group of newcomers that Furtado likes a lot. Canon was named to the Lady Cardinal Classic All-Tournament Team over the weekend.
"She's a lot like Sharon (Wahinekapu)," Furtado said of Canon. Wahinekapu, a former All-OIA guard, now plays at Portland State. "But we're young. Even our experienced players are mostly juniors."
And then, there's Kaiser. Longtime coach Lisa Mann led the Cougars through the East battles to reach the playoffs last season. They return Shera Yamamoto, Sharde Pratt and Kilioe Aliifua. Yamamoto is one of the quickest point guards in the league. Pratt is a solid 5-8 forward who does a lot of the little things and Aliifua is an agile 5-11 center.
Will there be room for any other team besides these six in the East? Roosevelt has been competitive in preseason, and if any of the top six should slip, Rough Rider coach Bobby Keanini will help his team find a way to get through.
Whether Kahuku is the favorite, teams are beginning to take measures to counter the Lady Raiders' strengths. Kamehameha-Hawaii went to a four-corners spread and stayed close before losing in the semifinals of the Lady Cardinal Classic on Friday night. Konawaena also spread the floor open in the second half with success Saturday, handing Kahuku its only loss of the preseason 55-41.