Iolani No. 1, no doubt about it
By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer
Not many people expected Iolani to extend its run to an unprecedented four consecutive boys state basketball championships this season.
Not when you lose eight seniors, including Derrick Low, the most prolific basketball player in Hawai'i history.
Not when you return only one player with extensive varsity experience.
Not when you have four starters who are underclassmen.
Coach Mark Mugiishi and his players heard the doubts and it fueled their competitive fires.
In the end, the season closed last night at Blaisdell Arena the same way it did in 2002, 2003 and 2004 — with Iolani hoisting the championship trophy.
Kyle Pape, the Raiders' only senior starter, scored 27 points as top-seeded Iolani overwhelmed second-seeded Kahuku, 62-51, in the championship game. A crowd of 4,205 saw the Raiders (17-0 regular and postseason) become the first team in Hawai'i history to win four consecutive state basketball titles.
"It feels great, we've been working hard all season long and to finish this way," said Vinny Nip, who scored nine points. "Not a lot of people expected us to be back this year, but we stayed strong, worked hard and believed in ourselves, and we came back and it feels good again."
Kawika Shoji, who had six points and seven rebounds, added: "It's extra special because a lot of people doubted us this year. ... People said we lost too many seniors, we weren't big enough to win."
Iolani, the Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion, enters next year with a 100-game winning streak against Hawai'i opponents.
In their drive for five next season, the Raiders will have to replace Pape, who scored 93 points in three tournament games. Pape himself was a complementary player last season, but became a star this season.
Nip or Shoji, or both, could step into Pape's shoes next season. Both are juniors.
"Vinny and I may lead a little bit, but we'll put five guys out there," Shoji said.
Mugiishi said the key to this year, as well as every year, is the same. He said his team needs to "play with a team concept, everyone understanding their role, everyone doing their job, nobody having personal ambitions other than the team's success."
Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8041.
