Hawaii Basketball

The ILH is expected to be a tightly contested race this season with as many as five teams contending for the title and one of the league’s three berths (actually more like 2.5) to the 2008 Hawaii Basketball State Tournament.

With practice opening today, HawaiiHoops.com previews the top teams in the ILH (in reverse order):

5. Mid Pacific Owls - With one of the top players in the state in 6-3 junior Marcus Holyfield (shown far right), the Owls have enough talent to be considered a legitimate contender in the ILH. Whether or not they live up to their potential will depend on their supporting cast as well as their coaching staff and the style they elect to employ. Several of the team’s core players already compete together in preseason NJB leagues which is a big advantage for the young squad, but it remains to be seen if these players will be able to transition to a different coach (School coaches are not allowed to coach outside leagues during certain time periods) and a different style.

Strengths: Holyfield and Devon Takenaka are two of the better players in the ILH and with their supporting cast of Kellar Ellsworth on the inside and Sampson Won at the point, they have a strong starting unit that thrives in transition and is very familiar with each other’s game.

Weaknesses: Beyond their top 4-5 players, there is a significant drop-off for the Owls, so it will be interesting to see how they deal with fatigue and foul trouble. The lack of depth may also hurt their ability to get out in transition which is one of their apparent strengths as they have been successful in the preseason getting out and finishing.

Prediction: The Owls may not have the consistency to finish in first or second, but they will provide the top tier teams with a few scares and possibly take one or two of them down. Look for Mid-Pac to give teams like Kamehameha and Iolani a lot of trouble when they meet up in January.

4. Kamehameha Warriors - The Warriors have a lot of gifted athletes, but it remains to be seen if they’ll be able to put it all together and play consistently at a championship level. Several players return from last year’s squad, but noticeably missing in 2007-08 will be ILH First Team guard Rykin Enos who graduated last season.

Strengths: With spot up sharp-shooter Kawika Lyons on the outside, Kamakoa Jovanovich on the inside and swingmen Conrad Scheidt, Pii Minns, Auwae De Rego, and Jon Hew Len roaming the wings, the Warriors have the pieces to make a strong run at the title. Add to that, talented point guard Brandon Dumlao and there could be even greater possibilities…

Weaknesses: Having so much individual talent could be the team’s biggest downfall as it will be their ability to play TOGETHER that will make or break them.

Prediction: Coach Nakanishi usually does a good job at finding a way to win even if its a little ugly so its likely that the Warriors will show flashes of brilliance at some point this season but will also lose a couple of games they probably shouldn’t. Look for Kamehameha to finish in a fight for third or fourth place - outside of the top two (who receive an automatic berth to the state tournament).

[Photo: Star Bulletin]

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The schedules have been posted for the 2007-08 ILH Boys & Girls Regular Seasons. Find them by clicking the “Schedules” tab along the top bar or click here.

Interesting Notes for the Boys:

• Season Opener - Iolani vs. Punahou - Tough first matchup for these two teams. Iolani is traveling this Christmas so it’ll be interesting to see if this affects their play since they will likely return just days before the game. As for Punahou, if Steinhoff is able to return at all it’s pretty unlikely that he’ll make it back by the first game.
• St. Louis’ 1st tough game on Jan 10th - The Saints lucked out by getting an extra week before playing their first tough game especially since they’re in the drivers seat to make it to the state tournament in football which will likely keep key players and their head coach from making consistent appearances until mid-December. Iolani is in a similar position football-wise (in Division II) but weren’t quite as fortunate with the schedule.
• Good or Bad? - St. Louis plays Punahou twice before playing Iolani once while Iolani plays MPI twice before facing the Saints once.
• Ridiculous Stretch of Games from Jan 19th - Look at that run of games… WOW! Punahou plays St. Louis, Iolani, Kamehameha and a dangerous MPI team all in just 8 days. Iolani faces MPI, Punahou, and St. Louis in a 6 day stretch. On Jan 24th, Iolani plays St. Louis and Punahou plays Kamehameha then, the next day, Kamehameha faces St. Louis. Again…Wow.

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