ISLE FILE
Tacon out at Punahou
Advertiser Staff
Greg Tacon will not return as head coach of the Punahou boys basketball team next season, Buffanblu athletic director Tom Holden confirmed yesterday.
"Anytime a decision is made to not renew a coach's contract, it is really difficult," Holden said. "We feel very fortunate to have had Greg Tacon coaching the past five years."
Tacon led the Buffanblu to three state tournament appearances, including a third-place finish in 2004. This season Punahou went 9-5 and did not qualify for the state tournament as one of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu's top three teams.
"I'm extremely disappointed," Tacon said. "I wish the kids the best, and whomever gets the job, they're going to be walking into a really good situation. There are eight kids back from a really good team, and two really good seniors in Miah Ostrowski and Spencer McLachlin."
Holden said "the school chose to go in a different direction," in deciding not to retain Tacon.
SURFING
ISLE SURFERS OUSTED
Australia's Melanie Redman-Carr, who ousted Hawai'i's Rochelle Ballard in the semifinals, beat six-time world champion Layne Beachley in the final of the Roxy Pro yesterday in Australia.
Beachley eliminated Hawai'i's Megan Abubo in the quarterfinals by virtue of a tiebreaker after each scored 14.50 points. Beachley caught six waves; Abubo five.
Just down the beach at the Quiksilver Pro yesterday, Australia's Taj Burrows ousted Hawai'i's Andy Irons, 16.97-11.00, in the quarterfinals and Taylor Knox eliminated Hawai'i's Pancho Sullivan, 11.03-11.00, in the fourth round.
BOXING
THREE FALL IN QUARTERFINALS
Three Hawai'i fighters lost in the quarterfinals of the 2006 U.S. Championships yesterday at Colorado Springs, Colo.
Luis Yanez, of Duncanville, Texas, beat Keola McKee of Wailuku when the referee stopped the 106-pound bout in the third round; Aaron Alafa, of Visalia, Calif., decisioned Bruno Escalante of Waimanalo, 20-11 at 112 pounds, and Jacqueline Jefferis, of Cumming, Ga., decisioned Triva Pino of Wahiawa, 16-9, in a women's bout at 138 pounds.
