The McKinley High School JV girls basketball coach who abruptly requested a forfeit of Wednesday night's showdown at Campbell despite his team leading, 30-18, said yesterday his first priority was the safety of players from both teams.

Myles Komatsu told The Advertiser yesterday he was concerned about numerous fouls not being called throughout the game, and made the decision to forfeit after a starter from each team was injured after two no-calls.

"I was concerned that more injuries were going to happen," said Komatsu, who requested the forfeit with 1:52 remaining in the third period. "I wasn't confident that the officials could handle the rest of the game. My gut feeling was that somebody else was going to get hurt."

Komatsu said he actually thought about halting the game in the second quarter.

"I talked to the Campbell coach and asked, 'Why don't we just call it a draw?' " Komatsu said. "But she said, 'Let's just let it play out' and see if it gets better in the second half. But it was the same thing (after halftime)."

Late in the third period, according to Komatsu, one of his starters was heading for a breakaway layup but was bumped from behind and fell to the court. No foul was called.

McKinley athletic director Neal Takamori said the player later was taken to a hospital and was examined for an injury to her midsection.

On the very next series, Komatsu said, a Campbell starter collided with a McKinley player and the Campbell girl also went down to the floor with an apparent knee injury.

Again, he said, no foul was called.

"I usually try to leave the game in the control of the officials, but at that point I felt I had to do something," Komatsu said. "The (McKinley) girls were upset, because they wanted to play and finish the game, but I told them it was my call, and I'll take the responsibility."

Komatsu said although his team entered the game undefeated (reportedly, so was Campbell), he believed the safety of both teams took priority over winning.

"Before the season, I told the girls my philosophy, that my goal was to prepare them for the varsity," Komatsu said. "If we happen to win a championship along the way, then that would be great. But it's not my top priority."

Komatsu said Wednesday's game got rough, but the play was not dirty.

"Both teams played hard," he said.

O'ahu Interscholastic Association executive director Dwight Toyama said he received a "citizenship report" from Campbell athletic director/site manager Sam Delos Reyes and spoke to him over the phone about the incident yesterday, but has not had a chance to give it a full review.

Toyama said OIA officials commissioner Louis Fuentes has videotape of the game and will be reviewing it soon.

Delos Reyes said the game likely will remain in the books as a 2-0 forfeit victory for Campbell. Both teams compete in the OIA's White Conference.

Read Wes Nakama's blog on prep sports at http://blogs.honoluluadvertiser.com.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.