By KEVIN JAKAHI
By KEVIN JAKAHI
Hawaii Tribune-Herald
The New Year kicks off with several interesting BIIF basketball games, including a Division I showdown between last season’s champion against the cellar dweller.
The three-time BIIF champion Wildcats (1-1) host the Vikings (1-1) on Saturday night at Ellison Onizuka Gym with the loser remaining in last place in what’s shaping up to be a season filled with parity.
In a 60-44 loss to Waiakea, it was made clear that Konawaena, although young and still talented, is a different version from last year. The graduation loss of Kevin Medeiros leaves the Wildcats without a long-distance gunner.
However, the loss of senior All-BIIF first team guard Cameron Howes, who has decided to concentrate on football, serves as a double whammy. He has always wanted to follow in the football footsteps of his brother Brandon Howes, who’s a quarterback at Pacific University.
Howes was an emotional leader, and coach Donny Awa called him the “heart and soul of the team.” Howes was the one who pushed others to match his energy level. Equally important, Howes was also the top on-ball defender.
In a sense, that’s how Waiakea beat Kona, relying on its strengths of patience and dribble-penetration to attack a weakness.
With five minutes left, the Warriors held a 45-42 lead and spread the court. When the Wildcats attacked, Calvin Mattos and his first-step quickness best friend beat a defender off the dribble to spark a 10-0 run with assists and layups.
Waiakea has two other solid ball-handlers in guards Louie Ondo and Noah Ferreira, who scored 13 points. The two guards and Mattos, a point forward, are technically sound at the free-throw line, another area of strength.
Next to Kamehameha, the Wildcats have the deepest bench. They’ve got two solid bigs in 6-foot-2 Kamakana Ching and 6-foot Paka Cacoulidis, two slashing scorers in Hauoli Akau and Austin Aukai, and a steady point guard in 5-10 Austin Ewing.
Likewise, Hilo is not the same team either, even though the roster is pretty much the same.
Isaac Liu, a 6-1 sophomore forward, has sprinkled improvement to sprout his all-around game. The versatile scoring weapon dropped 40 points in a 78-72 win over Honokaa, which is filled to the brim with athleticism.
Under first-year coach Ben Pana, the Vikings don’t have a ton of depth but match up well against Kona, which went just 6-6 in the regular season last year before a late growth spurt.
Josh Breitbarth, a 6-foot forward, is muscular like Liu and offers toughness on the glass. Senior guards EJ Narido and Kaimana Kawaha bring experience and tenacity when Hilo exercises its press. Junior forward Lawrence Padasdao can drain a 3-pointer, which stretches a defense for Liu and Breitbarth.
Whether the Vikings can duplicate Waiakea’s blueprint — play with patience, value possessions and protect a lead — will likely determine what team avoids an early spot in last place.
On Saturday, the only Division II matchup is St. Joseph (0-1) at Kohala (1-1), and it’s a contrast in styles.
The Cardinals play a 2-3 zone, in part to avoid foul trouble much like Waiakea, and count on discipline and backdoor cuts to find open looks, especially for shooters Cole deSilva and Manato Fukuda. Both can also create their own shots off the dribble.
St. Joe has a short bench, so foul trouble is always a concern. But in deSilva, Fukuda and Ruka Suda, the Cards have three smart perimeter defenders and a rugged post presence in forward Kaena Nao’opi’i.
On the other hand, the Cowboys play like the typical BIIF team. They’ll pressure on defense and run the floor. That style has worked well for them.
In the nine-year history of statewide classification, Kohala has advanced to the HHSAA Division II state tournament six times, including the last two years.
But in the New Year, maybe more teams will have a resolution to change their philosophy and play with patience, value possessions and hold the ball for last-second shots like state tournament teams.
One team has already committed to that resolution, a big reason Waiakea, under coach Paul Lee, is undefeated.