Crippled by a scandal that led to the firing of two coaches and the dismissal of nine players, Lana'i rebounded quickly to meet the challenge of fielding a team to represent the Green and Gold.

Last night they played their first Maui Interscholastic League Division II game at Baldwin High School gym.

"I'm proud of them. They stepped up," new head coach Verna Del Rosario said before the game. "I wouldn't have held the tryouts if I didn't have faith we would get a new team. The girls who had school spirit stuck it out and that's the team I have now.

Former Lana'i head coach Russell Zablan and assistant coach Dale Kapua were fired after allegedly providing alcohol to their players March 11 in the Mililani High School gym during a trip to O'ahu for a preseason tournament.

Nine players were eventually dropped from the team and suspended from school for allegedly violating the Lana'i athletic department's policy against underage drinking.

Maui County police on Lana'i conducted an initial investigation into reports that alcohol was distributed to minors and of sexual misconduct on the team. The investigation has been handed over to Honolulu police because any possible criminal actions took place on O'ahu.

The team held tryouts to see if it could field a team. After evaluating the players for three days, the coaches and athletic director David McHugh decided to play the season. The new team is made up of seven players, four of whom have never played organized basketball before.

With one week to whip the team into shape, Del Rosario decided to focus on defense rather than set plays. "I was just teaching the basics of basketball," she said.

Fortunately, she has some fine athletes, like senior Danica Lute, who was previously on the school's wrestling and physical fitness teams.

Lute said it was unfortunate what happened. But for her, it was an opportunity. She said she's wanted to play basketball since she was a sophomore, but other sports obligations took precedence.

In the stands last night were former Lana'i Co. official Vince Bagoyo and his wife, Jennifer. Bagoyo, a former Lana'i girls JV coach, was cheering on some former team members.

"We're real proud of these girls for making the correct decision in the face of adversity," Jennifer Bagoyo said. "And we're proud of the girls who came out for the team in light of the fact that there was no team."

Also cheering on Lana'i girls were their counterparts on the Moloka'i High School team, which beat St. Anthony in the early game.

"We always cheer for Lana'i because it's a small island with the same kind of community, and we have to travel off-island to play," said Moloka'i player Desarae Apuna.

It was rough start to the day for the Lana'i girls, some of whom got sick on the ferry ride to Maui.

"The ocean was going sideways and up and down. It was really choppy out there," Del Rosario said.

On Maui, the team went shopping for basketball shoes before resting at War Memorial Gym. By game time, the players appeared excited and ready to play.

"Don't worry if we lose, we'll still be happy," Del Rosario told the team before tip-off. "But if we win, I'll take you out for ice cream and musubi."