Posted on: Sunday, October 31, 2004
East's Kalaheo, Kahuku reach OIA boys final
| • | Kahuku, Moanalua girls advance in OIA |
By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer
The O'ahu Interscholastic Association East's top two teams made sure there were no more upsets in the league's tournament, creating a showdown between No. 1 and No. 2 for the OIA boys championship match.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser Kahuku (11-1) and Kalaheo (12-0) play Thursday at 6 p.m. at McKinley Gym for the OIA title. Both teams, along with Mililani (7-5) and Nanakuli (7-5), have already earned the OIA's four berths for the state tournament.
Kalaheo survived an early scare from the Golden Hawks, who were led by senior outside hitter Aaron Amaral, and his match-high nine kills. The Mustangs trailed 1-0 before the game started, because of a roster change that violated a federation rule.
Game 1 saw eight ties before Kalaheo took a 22-21 lead on a kill by senior outside hitter Mana Guerreiro, which started a 4-1 Mustangs run. Elias David's ace gave Kalaheo the game.
"It was a dog fight; they came out ready to play," said Kalaheo senior outside hitter Zach Reis, who had six kills. "We really didn't want to go three games, and we knew they could do it."
O'ahu Interscholastic Association Girls Yesterday's results Semifinals Boys Girls Interscholastic League of Honolulu Single-elimination tournament opening rounds Boys Girls Yesterday's results Boys Girls "We were taking him line (in the first game), but then we tried to move the block line and give him angle," Reis said.
It worked as the Mustangs held Amaral to two kills in the final game.
"We needed to be more disciplined on defense," said Kalaheo coach Sivan Leoni, who added the Mustangs needed to improve on passing, floor defense and blocking, with a delayed block on Amaral.
"We were able to take him out of the game," Leoni said.
The Golden Hawks, which upset West runner-up Radford to reach the semifinals, didn't qualify for the playoffs last season.
"We were ready and we knew exactly what we wanted to do," Nanakuli coach Rosalind Palakiko said. "I think mentally we were taken out of the game; the (TV) cameras and just being here."
The Red Raiders made sure they weren't the Trojans' latest upset victim. Mililani defeated West champ Waipahu in the quarterfinals.
"For them to beat the No. 1 West team, I was preparing the team, because something was working for them," Kahuku coach Howard Kaululaau said.
The Red Raiders (11-1) opened the first game with a 7-1 lead without recording a kill. Instead, they used two blocks, two service aces by Michael Tanuvasa, and three Trojan hitting errors.
"Getting off to a good start helped give us more confidence," said junior Okesene "Junior" Ale, who had a team-high nine kills.
The Trojans stayed close to open Game 2, but Kahuku scored six straight points to open a 14-7 lead. The Trojans closed to 19-16, but wouldn't get any closer.
Mililani senior outside hitter Scott Neumann had six kills.
Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2457.
East champion Kalaheo outlasted West No. 6 Nanakuli, 25-22, 25-15, and East No. 2 Kahuku easily handled West No. 5 Mililani, 25-18, 25-18, in a rematch of last year's OIA Championship game, when Kahuku claimed the title.
Kahuku's Charles Bell hits over the Mililani block of Kevin Carvalho, left, and Chris Burt in the second game of their OIA semifinal.
The Mustangs, led by a much-improved defense, and a higher intensity, according to Reis, worked on improving their block on Amaral in the second game.
Volleyball
Quarterfinals
At McKinley
