Punahou, Iolani take on teams from N.Y.
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
Hawai'i basketball teams went 0 for 6 over the weekend against Mainland competition in the Iolani Prep Classic, all by lopsided margins in first-round action.
But tonight's quarterfinals may be a truer test of how the islands' best compare with those on the continent, as three-time defending state champion Iolani takes on New York City powerhouse Rice and 2004 state semifinalist Punahou meets Xaverian of Brooklyn, N.Y.
The Punahou-Xaverian game is set for 5 p.m., with Iolani-Rice set for 8. The annual dunk contest will take place after the Iolani-Rice game.
Xaverian was ranked No. 9 in Street & Smith's preseason national rankings and features 6-foot-1 guard Levance Fields, who has signed with Pittsburgh. Fields did not play in Saturday's 51-28 victory over St. Anthony, reportedly for disciplinary reasons. But it is expected he will be back on the court tonight.
Punahou, meanwhile, features 5-9 sophomore guard Miah Ostrowski, who is the only returning member of The Advertiser's 2004 All-State first team. The Buffanblu also return 6-6 sophomore Spencer McLachlin and several other key returnees from a team that finished third in last February's state tournament.
Rice, from Manhattan, is ranked No. 23 in USA Today's Super 25 and has two top juniors in 6-9 forward Curtis Kelly and 6-1 guard Edgar Sosa.
Iolani, having lost three-time Advertiser State Player of the Year Derrick Low and several other key players to graduation, was expected to be in somewhat of a rebuilding mode this year with only one senior on the roster.
But the Raiders looked impressive in the James Alegre Invitational, routing 2004 state runner-up Kalaheo, 67-37, and then rolling past Punahou, 71-52. Iolani is led by 6-2 senior wing Kyle Pape, a pure shooter who was a second-team Advertiser All-State selection last season.
The Raiders also return 5-9 junior guard Vinny Nip and 6-3 forward Kawika Shoji.
"The thing about this year's team is they really love to play defense," Iolani coach Mark Mugiishi said. "They're intense and relentless, and they love to get after people."
Mugiishi said the Raiders will be at a size disadvantage tonight, but hopes to find open shots for Pape, Nip and Shoji.
"Rice will be tough to match up against because they're tall and athletic," Mugiishi said. "Hopefully we can just get into a shooting contest with them."
Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.
