Kalaheo may be hard-pressed to defend OIA title
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
Kalaheo High School girls basketball coach Chico Furtado has guided the Mustangs to five straight O'ahu Interscholastic Association championships, including last season after three-time Advertiser State Player of the Year Brandy Richardson had graduated.
But even Furtado says it would take a major upset for Kalaheo to repeat again, as the OIA tournament gets under way today with four first-round games.
"We've always had favorable positions, but the position we're in this year ... we're in a little bit of a predicament," Furtado said. "Right now, Moanalua, Kahuku and McKinley — they're playing better than us."
Such is the strength of this year's OIA Eastern Division, with the aforementioned teams plus Farrington expected to make a strong run at the semifinals. Last season, three East teams (Kalaheo, Kahuku and Moanalua) advanced to the semifinals, and some are predicting a clean sweep this time.
HARDIMON
WILY
LEE
Two-time West champion Pearl City (10-0) was the lone non-East team to make the state tournament last year and returns almost intact.
"If there's anyone in the West that has a chance, it's Pearl City," Moanalua coach Roy Dias said. "But we gotta take every team seriously, even in the West."
Furtado acknowledged as much.
"Give credit to the West, they've proven us wrong before," he said.
The favorites, though, definitely come from the East.
Here is a closer look at the tournament contenders:
MOANALUA
The division champ Menehunes (10-0) are set at all five positions and have a solid bench. Second-team All-State guard Patti Hardimon is a slashing scorer (11.9 points per game) and a leader, and wing Kepua Lee (10.8 ppg) and center Marleen Leautu are among the most improved players in the league.
Guards Christina Sierra and Amy Kotani handle the ball well and Kotani is a 3-point threat. Sasha Silva and Ronni Keli'iho'omalu provide solid inside play off the bench.
"Moanalua has got the weapons, probably more than any other team in the OIA," Furtado said. "They've got four people who can handle the ball, and they all do a good job at their positions."
KAHUKU
Kahuku (9-1) led Moanalua for three periods before losing 49-44 two weeks ago. The Red Raiders have a seemingly unlimited supply of athletes who can run the floor and create shots, and they have a premier post player in junior Latoya Wily (13.4 ppg). Guard Karla Tailele sees the floor well and distributes the ball with equal ease out of the halfcourt set or on the fast break.
McKINLEY
The Tigers (8-2) are led by All-State center Amber Lee, who led the East with 15 ppg. Junior guard Bre Carson (12 ppg) led the OIA in 3-pointers with 22. The Tigers, who were a No. 1 seed last season before losing to Moanalua in the quarterfinals, actually may have an easier route to the state tournament this year.
They play West No. 6 Leilehua (4-6) today, and if they win, face West No. 2 'Aiea (8-2) tomorrow on a neutral floor at Moanalua.
FARRINGTON
The tournament sleeper might be the Governors (7-3). Like Kahuku and McKinley, Farrington has a strong post player in center Laosamoa "Sunshine" Misa-Uli (14.2 ppg).
"They're really starting to come around," Dias said of the Govs. "And it's not just Sunshine; all the other girls are playing well, too."
Should the Governors get past Mililani (5-5) in today's first round, they will visit Pearl City in a 6:30 p.m. quarterfinal with a state tournament berth on the line.
PEARL CITY
Although the West is considered to be the weaker of the two divisions, the Chargers have one of the state's best guards in senior Christie Ayers (14.6 ppg). Ayers is a superb dribbler who is an especially dangerous threat to score in transition. Pearl City also has a solid post player in Marci Lobendahn and a shooter in Amy Fujihara, who tied for the West lead in 3-pointers with 16.
'AIEA
The West runner-up Na Ali'i (8-2) have a senior leader in guard Noe Colburn and a promising post in junior Jamie Rosario (10.4 ppg), but not many scorers after that.
RADFORD
The third-place Rams (8-2) got off to a 7-0 start, but have since lost leading scorer Tereva Moore (12.1 ppg) to a broken finger.
CAMPBELL
The fourth-place Sabers (8-2) have a quick guard in Jalen Garcia (12 ppg) and an agile post in Jamie Kua (11.1 ppg).
KALAHEO
And of course, the tournament always has Kalaheo (6-4). The Mustangs are extremely young, sometimes putting four freshmen and a sophomore on the court. Taylor Smith (13.8 ppg) transferred from the Mainland and emerged as one of the East's best players, and Shaina Siliga provides an outside threat, finishing third among the division's 3-point shooters with 13.
If Kalaheo defeats Campbell today, it will visit Moanalua in tomorrow's quarterfinals.
"Something about Kalaheo, they've built a tradition of winning over there where they just believe in themselves," Dias said. "We're trying not to look too far ahead. But when we moved over to the East (in 2001), people said it would be tougher, and what it's done is prepared our girls more for times like this."
Furtado also doesn't want to look past Campbell, but he noted that No. 1 seeds have fallen in both the boys and girls quarterfinals in recent years.
"It's not such a rare thing anymore," Furtado said.
Dias said he accepts that risk.
"We can lose one game and be out of it, but we can't complain," Dias said. "That's the way it is, and actually it really excites me. It means you gotta come to play, no matter what your seed is."
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