Basketball aspirations for the Parker Bulls are modest, which has more to do with inexperience than lack of ability.
“Our kids are just not basketball savvy, they just started two to three years ago,” coach Greg Dunigan said. “They don’t have high goals of accomplishing something.”
So, he told his players at the start of the season, let’s concentrate on beating someone we’re not expected to beat.
“They heard me, but I don’t they think heard me,” Dunigan said.
Everyone is listening loud and clear now after the Bulls lay claim to its biggest win since who knows when with a 55-47 overtime triumph against Konawaena, a result Wednesday night in Waimea that stunned many people – but not Dunigan.
“No, it didn’t shock me,” he said. “I think it shocked our kids a little bit. We’re just so inexperienced that they have a hard time believing in themselves.”
The Wildcats (3-1 BIIF Division I) are likely kicking themselves for two missed one-and-one free throw opportunities that would have helped them sustain a four-point lead in the final 30 seconds of regulation.
But the Conner Brown show wasn’t to be pre-empted.
Brown, a 6-foot-3 senior point guard, hit a 15-footer near the buzzer to tie the game.
Then he took over in overtime. Trusted with the ball in his hand, he went 10 for 10 from the free-throw line.
“I don’t think I’ve ever had a kid that loved to play basketball as much as he does,” said Dunigan, a longtime high school coach in Missouri before moving to the Big Island. “He sleeps with the basketball. He won’t ever leave the gym.”
The Bulls (1-1 Division II), who lost at Ka’u in their opener, matched their win total from last season, when they went 1-12 in their first time fielding a varsity team in almost a decade.
To be fair, Dunigan knew the 2018 team wasn’t quite ready for prime time. The Bulls moved up to varsity primarily so the their seniors could continue playing.
Though he has precious little depth at his disposal, Dunigan feels different about this year’s team, especially with Brown, an all-BIIF D-II selection last season who would have a strong chance to start on any D-I team this season.
“He’s playing point guard again and doing a lot of stuff,” Dunigan said. “Not scoring as much, but his assists are up, and he really has his eyes up, passing the ball to open people. He’s more of a point guard this season. He wants to play in college.”
Dunigan thinks Brown can play at the NCAA Division II, D-III or NAIA levels, but he may go the juco route first to gain strength.
An apparent BIIF boys basketball upset for the ages could take on a different complexion in a few weeks depending on what trajectory the Bulls and Wildcats take. Konawaena, which has made six consecutive state tournament trips, is largely a new team, though it’s already earned road wins at Hilo and Honokaa.
The Wildcats couldn’t escape Wednesday night from Waimea recreation center, where Dunigan noted the Bulls were backed by crowd that grew bigger and louder as the game wore on.
“Our defense (a matchup zone) kept us in the game,” Dunigan said. “I told the team we can play with anybody, but we have to stick together.”
Length isn’t a problem, but depth is an issue for Parker, which goes seven deep.
Brown is joined in the rotation by seniors Trevor Bastien, a 6-4 forward, and Dayton Brighter, a 6-3 forward, and juniors Riley Higgins, a 5-10 guard, Tyler Thomas, a 6-3 forward, and Jake Mader, a 5-10 guard. Higgins scored eight points against Konawaena.
One of the few times Parker has been overmatched came in a preseason contest at Waiakea, which used it quickness to keep the Bulls from getting into half-court sets.
Dunigan said the best is yet to come from Bastien, the team’s second-best shooter behind Brown.
“We have not seen the best of him,” the coach said. “I don’t think the people on the island know how good he is. He doesn’t always play up to his ability, but we’ll see in the next five weeks if he can be a force.
“He wants to play outside, but I want him inside.”
Parker will host Kealakehe on Friday, so the Bulls gathered for a quick turnaround practice at 8 a.m. Thursday.
“What I really loved is we talked about the things we did good,” Dunigan said, “and the things we didn’t do so good.”
The Bulls were listening, and then Dunigan asked them how it felt to beat a team they weren’t expected to beat.
“We’re just tickled to death,” Dunigan said.
