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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, January 2, 2003

'Swords' M*A*S*H unit ready for battle

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

And for his next act, ladies and gentlemen, Chaminade men's basketball coach Aaron Griess will unveil his incredible shrinking team.

One by one, Chaminade players have disappeared because of injuries, leaving Griess to work his roster-juggling magic on the Silverswords, picked by league coaches to finish third in the six-team Pacific West Conference this season.

The injury bug has hit four key Chaminade players — including all-conference guard Kashif Reyes, who has torn ligaments in his right ankle — and has contributed to the Silverswords' 5-7 preseason record. The Silverswords now have 11 players.

"It's definitely a M*A*S*H unit," Griess said. "But that's part of a basketball season, and you've got to be able to deal with it. We're dealing with it."

The season doesn't get any easier Saturday night at 7:30 at McCabe gym when the Silverswords open the Pacific West Conference against defending co-conference champion Montana State University-Billings (6-2), a team anchored by 6-foot-11 forward Kyle Stirmlinger.

"They've got some very good outside shooters, and some big kids," Griess said of Montana State-Billings. "(Stirmlinger) hurt us last year. It's going to be a challenge for us to guard him."

After losing their first four games, including three in the EA Sports Maui Invitational, the Silverswords went 5-3 and closed the preseason with a 107-40 victory over Fontbonne College (Mo.), a Division III school, on Sunday.

"As a team we're getting better," senior guard and co-captain John Kirk said. "We feel pretty good going into conference. Everything is 0-0. It's a brand new season. We just want to get some victories."

One player who has helped the Silverswords this year is senior co-captain Leon Ballard. The 6-foot-5 forward has overcome a broken right foot from last season and has emerged as one of the best players in the conference. He's in the conference's top seven in scoring (17.9, 2nd), rebounding (7.3, 5th), field-goal percentage (.534, 6th) and free-throw percentage (.743, 7th).

"He definitely has worked hard to get where he's at right now," Griess said. "He's definitely a force, but he is going to continue to get better."

Added Ballard: "I need to really step up. I haven't really stepped up all season. Coming into this season, that's why I'm so excited, it's given me a fresh start."

Senior forward Mike Donegan said a rocky preseason — one that included an 85-66 loss to Cal State Stanislaus on Dec. 21 when the Silverswords squandered a 43-20 halftime lead and were outscored 65-23 in the second half — will be forgotten with a good showing in the conference.

"Hopefully, if we do OK in the PacWest, we can make up for all the problems we've had before in the beginning of the season," said the 6-foot-6 Donegan, who along with 6-foot-9 junior center Mike Ross will guard Montana State-Billings' Stirmlinger.

Besides the injury to Reyes, Griess said he's dealing with three other key injuries. Reserve junior guard Jerry Wells tore the ACL in his left knee and is out for the season; returning starter Rahshaw McAfee, a senior swingman, tore ligaments in his right thumb (shooting hand) and is likely out until mid-January; and junior center Ryan Bishop broke his left foot before the season, and might be forced to redshirt this season.

"Every game from here on out is going to be a tough opponent for us because where we're at with our personnel," Griess said. "We have to fight and scrap for every inch that we get. We really have to play together and play hard. If we do that, we'll be fine."

Last week's basketball results

  • Hawai'i Pacific 96, Maryville-St. Louis 60
  • Chaminade 107, Fontbonne 40
  • Hawai'i-Hilo 82, Angelo State 64
  • Cal State-San Bernardino 78, Hawai'i-Hilo 59
  • Cal State-Los Angeles 75, Montana State University-Billings 55
  • Hawai'i Pacific 74, Carthage 65
  • Cal Poly Pomona 82, Montana State University-Billings 66
  • Western New Mexico 87, New Mexico Highlands 80

This week's schedule

Tomorrow's game

  • St. Martin's vs. Brigham Young-Hawai'i, 7:30 p.m. at Cannon Activities Center

Saturday's games

  • Montana State University-Billings vs. Chaminade, 7:30 p.m. at McCabe gym*
  • Hawai'i-Hilo vs. Drew, 7:15 p.m. at Afook Chinen Civic Center

Sunday's game

  • Hawai'i Pacific vs. St. Martin's, 7:30 p.m. at Blaisdell Arena

*—Pacific West Conference game