Congrats to the tiny village of a school in the residential area of Alewa Heights. It's quite a testament to Coach Hess and their players that they were able to advance so far in the Div. II tournament.
A school without a gymnasium with just over 100 students is right up there with the big boys-- schools with a thousand students and more.
Well done Dolphins!
great season
Well done dolphins! Just a little short from being considered a worst to first team. Cinderalla almost made it to the dance. Hats off to Dunhour and the big German. They both are definitely two off the states best. I have watched alot to bball this past week and Dunhour definitely has the mojo to do well at the next level. His skills are still raw but already tops in the league. Work hard this off season and next will be one to remember. Coach Hess please work on your bench. Losing the fourth and fifth heartbeat to fouls last night killed you guys. All you needed was someone serviceable (i.e. catch the ball, pass the ball, take a dribble, D up). Great year. Good luck next year!
I was able to see AOP's first game against Seabury. I saw some very good coaching from both teams. Both teams have some very good players. The only problem I saw was some serious bad calls against the Maui team. Second time I have seen the Maui team play, I need to say they are a better team. I hate to say it since I do live close by, AOP was given the game by the the some very unfair calls. Hopefully we will be not looked upon as a unfair city.
Kam12-was at the same game, I think the officiating was pretty consistent. That meaning consistently bad in that game and every other game. Could break it down but both teams had calls go against them. You got it right, seabury probably is a way better team but they let three players beat them. Gotta give the dolphins credit. BTW-punahou/kamehameha game-free throws something crazy like 20+ to 2 in favor of Kam12 I mean Kamehameha. AOP-Kailua FTs 37-18 Kailua according to OC16. Who cares everyone thinks there a ref including me when I'm at the games. SUCH IS LIFE!
Aloha Livewire, I agree to a certain point, consistent? to both teams, sorry, not even close. I agree AOP have some great players. Really enjoyed watching Dunhour play the game, great talent. As you say "such is life" also life isn't always fair, just ask the Maui team. I understand they are a pretty sharp school, they will get over quickly and realize this.
I agree Kam12 life isn't always fair. Someone is always on the losing end. I mean this i a good way but excuses are like "okole holes" and everyone has one, especially when you lose. Lets give all the winners and losers credit for playing hard and being passionate about the game. After all this is just a game!
Iolani, Punahou and Kamehameha have solid D-II teams, but cannot enter the post season because they have teams in D-I. AOP had a solid team, worthy representative of the ILH. AOP had zero wins in 2008 under Alika Smith. A special needs status allows AOP to recruit. Nice to see public schools Kailua and Pahoa battling for the championship with Pahoa prevailing.
Recruiting by the ILH makes it an unfair advantage for public schools, but Pahoa prevailed over their private school counterparts St.Joe's.
AOP "recruiting?" That's funny.
curious. Where on Oah'u is AOP located?
AOP is a talented team, young,will be back for a run next year. @db did any of their starters play for AOP last year?
StL- I'm not trying to pick a fight here, but "recruiting" at AOP? They don't have a gym, have a school with special needs kids ranging from Asperger's to Dyslexia to a variety of behavioral and emotional issues. The makeup of their team varies from year to year wildly because part of their mission is to pick kids up, dust them off, and then send them on their way. Many times, this means leaving AOP back to another ILH or OIA school.
It's about suiting the needs of each student; not winning ILH or Div. II championships. It's incredible they did what they did.
@db, Thanks for clearing up the confusion, I didn't realize that the players had special needs.
If AOP recruits there coaches/recruiters should take up another profession. Did you see there team, OMG there horrible beyond the big three. If I'm not mistaken moved from the big island, another is an exchange student and the Daniels kid is from who knows where. My point is, at all schools recruiting takes place whether public or private. I was part of a dominate basketball program and our team had exchange students and some of our vital parts came from other public schools including myself. Yeah I was so called recruited to go to a public school from another public school. Every team does it. Give AOP credit for there achievements. BTW if a public/private school cannot field a team that probably have graduating senior classes bigger than AOP's total high school enrollment maybe we should push for div. 3 in hawaii just like they do on the mainland. I wonder what the excuse would be then!
db does Micah Dunhour have a special need?
Hoops, I don't know about Dunhour specifically; I do know a little about AOP. 10% of the school's student population has had a parent die in the last three years. Some of the kids are just looking for a "safe" place to learn.
I watched an intermediate game between AOP and St. Louis a few years back when AOP lost by 100 points-- the final score was 112-12, or something like that. In one quarter, AOP didn't even get the ball beyond half court.
For AOP, it's really about participation opportunities. If Dunhour was "recruited," I'd be very surprised.
special needs? a point guard,center and some guys to practice with.aloha
I believe he was recruited, but I also believe he may have some disability as well. I absolutely realize what type of school AOP is and I'm happy that they get to be in the spotlight athletically instead of the special circumstances that they go thru.
Okay lets try to put this to rest. I am very familiar with the school that Dunhour came from. According to the people close to the program, his parents wanted a better educational environment for him. Whether or not that constitutes a special need i am not sure. As far as I have heard he is fine physically and mentally and has went from barely getting by educationally to being on the honor roll. FYI his parents are from Oahu originally.
Good for him and his family. Sounds like he is thriving in the small school environment.
Seabury Hall was robbed by the refs. Do not take anything away from AOP as they have 3 good players with a good support system but really 27 free throws to 7. Also the fans from AOP need to lighten up as they showed no class during the game.
No way Dunhour has a special needs
From the little information I know about AOP, sounds like an incredible school. Small and well liked. Some of these ball players I watched Thursday had some very nice moves. We all have special needs my friends, I would do anything to have Dunhour's special basketball needs. It's not their fault we have some uneducated refs over here, so sad.. I still believe it was a little one sided to the entire crowd. Funny, I don't even know anybody on these teams. I just want to see clean and fair games, players to refs, to fans, that's all, so simple.
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