Posted on: Thursday, May 19, 2005
St. Francis hopes to challenge for title
| • | Kahuku, Konawaena to meet in semifinals |
| • | Honoka'a sinks Lahainaluna, 53-43 |
| • | Punahou pummels Roosevelt |
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
The challenge was issued to the St. Francis girls basketball players three months ago, immediately after the Troubadours softball team won the Division II state championship.
"They came up to our girls and said, 'OK, now it's your turn,' " St. Francis basketball coach Paul Tanaka said.
The Troubadours lived up to part of that challenge by qualifying for their first Division II state tournament, which begins today with semifinal games at the Stan Sheriff Center. St. Francis (11-3) plays Seabury Hall (12-1) at 2:30 p.m., followed by Kalani (16-2) against Kamehameha-Hawai'i (11-2) at 4:15.
State championships are rare at St. Francis, an all-girls school with an enrollment of about 400. But the Troubadours already have two this year, with junior Kalei Gora also winning the individual tennis crown.
To earn its state basketball berth, St. Francis had to fight off strong challenges in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu by Hawai'i Baptist, St. Andrew's and La Pietra.
"Those are all great teams," Tanaka said. "We feel very fortunate to be representing the ILH."
The Troubadours are led by 5-foot-10 junior post Siutiti Takai, who scored 20 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in a 61-52 victory over Punahou on May 7 to clinch the state berth.
But Tanaka said it's been a true team effort, including the support from the student body in general and the examples set by St. Francis' other state champs.
"It's really lifted the spirit of the school," he said.
Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.
