I have a pretty good idea about what pre-season tourneys will be happening this year, but I was wondering what teams will be playing in what...
Preseason tourneys:
-Kalaheo
-Iolani Classic
-Radford
-St. Joseph's (big island)
Please feel free to add the tourney's you know that are happening and what teams are involved.
Howzit BBJ. Will there be a Punahou and Merv Lopes Tournament this season?
Howzit 2DHoop...I don't know how I failed to mention those two tourneys. Yes, there will be a Punahou and Merv Lopes as well.
Also, I heard there was going to be a big tournament in your mouth Jones!
I believe that McKinley is still having their tourney. Here is what I know about the Merv Lopes. 3 mainland teams, I believe De La Salle, and 2 others from Cali. Mix of D2 and D1 teams in it. I will try to find out who else is in it.
There will also be a Moanalua Winter Tournament. I believe Iolani will be in this classic.
Teams in the St. Joe/Waiakea tourney:
Ka'u, Kona, Iolani, Kohala, KS-Hawaii, Kealakehe, St Joe, Kaahumanu, HPA, Waiakea, Laupahoehoe, Pahoa, Keaau, Waimea, Hilo.
Interesting first roudn game slates Iolani and Kohala. Kohala is loaded with talent as a Div 2 school, but a definite Div 1 quality team...won't be no walk thru for the Raiders. Winner would face Ka'u/Kona winner...could be a shoulda, woulda 3rd place game last season in states.....
Do you know what exactly Iolani Raiders will bring? I truly expect an even stronger Iolani squad this year.
Bigisle - would you mind breaking down some of the top BIIF teams: Honokaa, KS-Hawaii, Kealakehe, Kohala, Konawaena, St. Joe's and Waiakea. Heard that KS-Hawaii has a new coach. Kohala is loaded. Could you help us out?
The Big I is keeping us posted! Yeah! Keep and text all the stats, scores and data from those matchups on this site as you attend that tournament. Mahalo braddah!
Basketball Jones...no doubt the Raiders a loaded this year, I'm not questioning that. Just saying that Kohala seems like a nice warm up game, but many teams will struggle with their style. Not to mention, Iolani will be missing some football players I assume.
BIIF:
Waiakea definitely has a bunch of talent returning from last year - can't remember all the names. They do have a new coach (Paul Lee). Tall kid from KS-Hawaii has also transferred over, giving them height inside, which they really needed.
Konawaena loses four starters, but fill the starting five with experienced back ups from a year ago. Depth might be a concern. They also lack dominant scorers...which could be good or bad.
KS-Hawaii had a nice Jv program last year. They lose that nice senior class that has been together for a long time, but they will reload with juniors. Nelson Wong did step down as another coaching transition takes place there.
Honokaa loses their scoring venues from last year. They also had a nice Jv team last year that was complimented with a lot of height. It will be a question of who they rely on for their scoring. Nobody ever credits the Dragons preseason, but they always seem to put together a solid team every year.
Kealakehe will be led by Jordan Ursua and his freshman brother John (probably one of the most skilled freshman the BIIF will ever see). They also got a transfer guard from Nevada. Their only question will be their big men as some of the two sport athletes are nursing injuries.
Kohala has a three year 6'6 center, two time Div II POY Bautista, Honokaa (two year stater) transfer that can light it up from the outside, Parker (three year starter) transfer that did all their scoring. Not to mention role players that know thier limits and play within coach Fernandez's style. Very nice group if it all comes together.
St. Joe was really young last year and basically returns a very competitive team that upset division 1 teams last year. Deliberate style and over achieving players can give teams a hard time - should challenge Kohala in Div 2.
Howzit bigisle. As far as the football players, their season will end this Friday and their first day of basketball practice will be on Monday the 8th. With that said that doesn't give them much time to prepare as their game with Kohala will be Wednesday night.
The Raiders are known for being disciplined and patient on offense...sometimes too patient. Defensively, its tough to find another team within the state that can match the Raiders tenacity and aggression. This is where majority of their points should come from, in the transition. They lose big man Taylor Mounts but they are a much more athletic and quicker team than last year.
What type of team does Kohala have?
Kohala is a run and gun team...they need to get out in front to avoid Iolani's trapping defense. If Kohala can get an early lead and change the tempo of the game, the Cowboys could make it interesting. Iolani came down for this tourney 2 years ago (Nobriga)...Konawaena jumped to a double digit lead early. Three controversial charging calls killed momentum and altered Kona's intensity...Coach Doc comes down to the Big Isle and the referees think he's a god.
Really a God? That should be good for Iolani, I guess. I have to admit that the Big Isle refs are the worst homer's in the history of this state.
Haha, don't want to go there. That's a entire discussion in itself. Too many egos - forget why they're really out there.
Hey bigisle...other than Ken's Pancake House, any other places to go in Hilo to get entertained. Strip clubs, etc.? Thanks.
Nope, hardly anything on the Big Island open past 9 pm.
I enjoy eating at Ken's.
I also like the gravy cheeseburger, slush float, and crinkle cut fries at Blaine's, big island candies, and 2 ladies mochi.
Hilo Yacht Club is a beautiful venue.
Kawamoto okazuya.
If can, can. No can, Verna's!
Radford Tournament
Dec 11
Leilehua vs Honoka'a 3:00pm
Kailua vs Puanhou 4:30pm
Radford vs Maryknoll 6:00pm
Kamehameha vs Moanalua 7:30pm
KHS vs MOHS could be a final game at any tournament, 1st round opener here.
Let the hoops begin!!
Ken's over in Hilo is the best!! Pancakes and a Omlete, can't beat it!
I agree...Kamehameha vs. Moanalua is a big opening game. I will be there...garans ball barans!
Ken's it is!!!
Hey guys, I'll be there supporting my nephew. He plays for Kamehameha Hawaii. I'll be suckin my beers at Kims, just across the Civic. Good food, karaoke, sorry no strippers. Then I head over to Shooters to close the bar. I'll wear my Kamehameha shirt (XXXL). Check me out and I'll buy the first two rounds. Honest. You can't miss me. I'm a big hawaiian, grad from Kamehameha Kapalama, played football. IMUA!
BigDog, you might know one of the dads going up for the tourney. Like you, he too is Blue and White, played football, and wears 3XL! Guarantee you know him. You might know me too! Did you play football with ex Coach Nelson Wong? Older, younger, same age?
Kamehameha Hawaii Coach Nelson Wong graduated from Kamehameha Kapalama in the mid 80's. He was an allstate basketball player and great football player as well. Coach Wong is still a legend here on campus. My football coach was Blaine Gaison (I was half my size back then) and my basketball coach was James Winchester. I'm a 93 grad. Haven't made air reservations yet because I'm still trying to get vacation from my cooking job, but you can count me in. I'll probably be staying with family. You'll see me in the gym, blue Kamehameha shirt XXXL, give me the shaka. First two brews on me Fanatic. IMUA!
Looks like it ended up being a walk through for the Raiders.
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