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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Division I boys will be tightly contested

Advertiser Staff

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Junior forward Pablo Warner, a pure shooter, will lead No. 1 seed 'Iolani in the state tournament.

The Honolulu Advertiser

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To get an idea of how wide open the 42nd Annual Hawaiian Airlines/Hawai'i High School Athletic Association Boys Basketball Division I Championships are entering tonight's first round, consider that No. 1 seed 'Iolani suffered a 70-49 loss just four weeks ago.

Also consider that No. 2 seed Konawaena, the first Big Island Interscholastic Federation champ to be seeded that high in at least seven years, won its league title with a 42-41 victory.

And ponder that No. 3 seed Mililani, the O'ahu Interscholastic Association champion, was seeded third in its own OIA Western Division.

And finally, figure that No. 4 seed Kamehameha-Maui finished third in its regular season and needed three postseason upsets in the final two weeks to repeat as league champ.

In other words, all 12 teams are beatable, and the title is up for grabs.

First-round play begins tonight at McKinley's Student Council Gym and Radford's Jim Alegre Gymnasium. At McKinley, it will be Lahainaluna against Punahou at 6 and Kamehameha vs. Kahuku at 8.

At Radford, the matchups are Kalaheo vs. Kamehameha-Hawai'i at 6, followed by Campbell vs. Moanalua at 8.

The Division II boys tournament also begins tonight.

Here is a closer look at the 12 DI teams (records are for regular and postseason only):

CAMPBELL

COACH: Glenn Flores.

RECORD: 10-5 (OIA fourth place).

NOTABLE: The Sabers might be one of the tournament's dark horses because of their size and athleticism. Senior guard Michael Makinano (5-11) is a potent scorer who can hit shots from deep or penetrate off open court moves. Junior forward/center Eddie Gaines (6-5) runs the floor well and has a good touch around the basket, as does 6-2 senior center Terence Tafai, who adds a physical presence. Campbell is especially dangerous when it pushes the ball and forces a fast tempo.

'IOLANI

COACH: Mark Mugiishi.

RECORD: 12-2 (ILH runner-up).

NOTABLE: The Raiders are seeking their sixth state championship in the past seven years. They are led by 6-1 junior forward Pablo Warner, a pure shooter who also hustles for rebounds and aggressively slashes inside against traffic despite a slender frame. Senior center Taylor Mounts (6-5) has come on strong after some erratic performances earlier and now is a dominant inside force. Junior guard Kela Marciel (5-10) comes off the bench to provide experience and quickness, and freshman guard Trevyn Tulonghari (5-11) almost always produces spot offense. 'Iolani is extremely disciplined and patient on offense, making crisp passes and setting effective picks, and the Raiders play good team defense.

KAHUKU

COACH: Nathan James .

RECORD: 11-4 (OIA fifth place).

NOTABLE: The Red Raiders had a strong regular season, got upset in the league quarterfinals, then rallied with two victories to earn the OIA's final state berth. They have a veteran, athletic point guard in junior Jray Galeai (6-0), who started for Utah power Timpview (Provo) last season. Kahuku can go big all around, with senior center Patrick Au (6-8), senior forward Willie Ching (6-5), junior guard/forward Irwin Ah Hoy (6-0) and senior guard/forward Shiloah Te'o (6-0).

KALAHEO

COACH: Chico Furtado .

RECORD: 14-1 (OIA third place).

NOTABLE: The Mustangs were ranked No. 1 in The Advertiser's statewide poll of coaches and media just a week ago, before falling to Moanalua at home in a semifinal upset. Senior guard Cheynne Lishman (6-2) is one of the state's top shooters, and he also has attacked the basket effectively this season. Kalaheo is physical inside with 6-4 forwards DJ Chang (sr.) and Christian Kepa (jr.) and junior forward Matt Gasparine (6-1). Senior point guard Taylor Jay (5-7) and junior guard Richard Preza-Haynes (5-9) offer more perimeter shooting.

KAMEHAMEHA

COACH: Jesse Nakanishi.

RECORD: 11-4 (ILH third place).

NOTABLE: The Warriors appear to be peaking at the right time. Nakanishi emphasizes an aggressive, tight defense, and the players have responded with three straight impressive postseason efforts. Their 2-3 zone is one of the best in the state and their man defense can be relentless; they can force turnovers out of both. Offensively, junior guard Pi'i Minns (6-2) is an athletic all-around threat and senior guard Kawika Lyons (6-0) is one of the state's best pure shooters. Junior forward Auwae DeRego (6-2) is an inside force who can hustle and fight for rebounds. Micah Christenson, a 6-3 freshman who recently was called up from the JV, adds depth.

KAMEHAMEHA-HAWAI'I

COACH: Nelson Wong .

RECORD: 12-2 (BIIF runner-up).

NOTABLE: The Warriors fell to Konawaena, 42-41, in a tight league championship game. They return several key players from last year's team which made a surprising run into the semifinals: forwards Kealoha Kramer (6-0), Hogan Rosehill (6-0) and Colten Collins (6-1), and guards Isaiah Kekaualua (5-11) and Russell Kackley (6-3).

KAMEHAMEHA-MAUI

COACH: Lance Cagasan .

RECORD: 12-3 (MIL champion).

NOTABLE: The Warriors overcame a slow start to the regular season to score three huge victories at the end to repeat as league champion. They upset Baldwin and regular season champ Lahainaluna in the MIL tournament, then knocked off the Lunas in a winner-take-all playoff for the overall crown. Sophomore guard/forward Kekoa Turbeville (6-0), and seniors Bryann Pali (6-0, f) and Erwin Decoite (6-1, f/c) give Kamehameha-Maui provide front-line scoring and seniors Kaleo Demello (5-11) and Jeff Oka (5-7) man the backcourt.

KONAWAENA

COACH: Donny Awa .

RECORD: 14-1 (BIIF Champion).

NOTABLE: The Wildcats held off Kamehameha-Hawai'i in the final 94 seconds to win, 42-41, last Friday in the league championship game. Senior forward Kekoa Carvalho, a 6-3 forward, scored all 17 of his points in the second half. Austonn Lazoff, another 6-3 senior forward, is another scoring threat and senior Kali'i Kunitomo (5-10) and junior Ho'okela Liftee (5-6) provide backcourt offense.

LAHAINALUNA

COACH: Eric Balinbin .

RECORD: 11-4 (MIL runner-up).

NOTABLE: The Lunas were in the league driver's seat until the final week, then they fell to Kamehameha-Maui in the MIL tournament final and then again in the winner-take-all playoff game. But Lahainaluna did defeat the Warriors twice during the regular season. Senior center Nuti Pousima (6-2) and juniors Jake and Jayson Manning (both 6-1) patrol the front line, while senior guard Paul Salvador (5-8) leads the backcourt.

MILILANI

COACH: Hiram Akina .

RECORD: 13-3 (OIA champion).

NOTABLE: The Trojans won their first league championship despite starting point guard Curtis Murakami (5-4, sr.) being lost for the season after suffering a torn Achilles tendon in the semifinals. He remains their emotional leader and has a strong presence on the bench. Like Campbell, Mililani has height, athleticism and shooters. Senior guard Scott Burns (6-3) can run the floor and hit 3-pointers. Senior centers Jonathan Keen (6-4) and Warren Duke (6-3) are agile and junior center Reid Pangelinan (6-5) provides muscle underneath. Guards Aaron Lenchanko (5-11, sr.) and Nehoa Akina (5-8, so.) can drain 3-pointers and have picked up the slack left by Murakami's absence.

MOANALUA

COACH: Greg Tacon .

RECORD: 11-5 (OIA runner-up).

NOTABLE: Na Menehune made a surprising run to the league championship game before falling to Mililani. Senior point guard Stevie Austin (5-9) is one of the state's best all-around players — a superb ball-handler, floor leader and shooter and explosive open court slasher and defender. Senior forwards Josh Kure and Ryan Hua — both 6-0— can hit the open shot and help with rebounding, and senior center Shawn Richey (6-2) also offers experience and can contribute with inside scoring. Sophomore forward Marcus Monroe (6-3) is a 3-point threat.

PUNAHOU

COACH: Dan Hale .

RECORD: 10-3 (ILH runner-up).

NOTABLE: Two of the Buffanblu's three league losses came to 'Iolani, by a combined five points. They have the height and athleticism to give almost any team big problems. Senior guard/forward Kameron Steinhoff (6-5) can run the floor and score from anywhere. Junior center Manti Te'o (6-3) has steadily improved into an inside force, both with scoring and rebounding. Senior forward Trevor Crabbe (6-6) also runs the floor and jumps well. Junior guards Dalton Hilliard (5-11) and Robbie Toma (5-10) are extremely quick and can sink the 3-pointer if left open. Sophomore guard/forward Henry Cassiday (6-2) and junior forward Kimo Makaula (6-3) have a lot to offer off the bench.