Posted on: Friday, April 29, 2005

Lana'i basketball team rebounds again

By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer

The Lana'i girls basketball team, which came close to ending its season twice this year, will play in the Maui Interscholastic League Division II Tournament next week.

The team's most recent near-demise came last week because of a low numbers of players, according to Lana'i athletic director David McHugh.

However, McHugh said yesterday, "We have the numbers and we want to continue the season."

The team forfeited two games against Seabury Hall last Friday and Saturday because one player couldn't play, according to McHugh. He said the reasons the player couldn't play were confidential.

That left the team with six players, and "given the low numbers, we wouldn't be able to continue the season," McHugh said.

He said after announcing the team would end its season last Thursday, the remaining players approached him, and they had meetings that day and Friday.

This Monday, the player was cleared to return to the team, and McHugh made a request to the league Tuesday, asking that the team be allowed to return to league play, and it was granted.

Lana'i will forfeit its games against Hana today and tomorrow because the late decision to continue its season created a problem for Hana's travel plans.

Lana'i will enter the MIL Division II tournament with a 2-8 record.

Former Lana'i head coach Russell Zablan and assistant coach Dale Kapua were fired earlier this season. Alcohol was allegedly given to some of the Lana'i players during a trip to O'ahu for a preseason tournament in March.

Nine players were dropped from the team and suspended from school for allegedly violating the school athletic department's policy against underage drinking. That left two players, putting the team's season in jeopardy. But several schoolmates, including those who had no basketball experience, joined the team.

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2457.