HondaReport.com - Boys' Basketball: Tradition, Inspiration gave Kalaheo an edge

Boys' Basketball: Tradition, Inspiration gave Kalaheo an edge

Tradition, pride, excellence. Finding a way to beat Kalaheo at playoff time has long been difficult. The Mustangs were a team not to be denied Wednesday night, and Kaimuki was the unfortunate opponent.

KAILUA—Being the premier basketball program in the O’ahu Interscholastic Association comes with perks.

After all, when Kalaheo hosts a playoff game, opposing teams walk into a facility that has dozens upon dozens of championship banners decked in blue and orange.

When Kaimuki walked into the Mustangs’ gym for Wednesday’s semifinal game with Kalaheo, there was even more. Seated on the Kalaheo bench, in seat 1A, was none other than former head coach, the legendary Pete Smith.

And if that weren’t inspiring enough—and it certainly was—the Mustangs didn’t have to worry. Head coach Chico Furtado knew what he wanted. That’s what a regular-season loss to those same Bulldogs did. This time around, Kalaheo secured an opportunity to defend its OIA championship with a 61-56 win over Kaimuki.

By halftime, Kalaheo clung to a precarious 24-21 lead. With Kaimuki’s puzzling 2-3 matchup zone stretching all over the floor, Theo Fujita was opportunistic. With center Sam Wilhoite getting double- and triple-teamed, Fujita stepped up with three first-half 3-pointers.

“We just needed to get Theo the ball,” Furtado said. Fujita continued his onslaught in the second half, finishing with 21 points, including five treys. With additional offensive and defensive spark from William Elliott, Neil Bowers, David Moore, Matt Nakashima and more, the Mustangs didn’t need a monster night from Wilhoite.

The 6-foot-7 senior finished with 14 points despite being blanketed most of the night. “Sam’s a really good player, and we knew they’d be in a tight zone. I knew I’d get my opportunities,” Fujita said.

Furtado thinks there is certainly room for his team to improve. “We did an excellent job of getting the ball to the high post. We just didn’t hit the shots,” he said.

Kalaheo opened the floor up late in the third quarter with a spread, but it allowed Kaimuki back into the game. A nine-point lead became a 39-35 game with 5:10 left.

That’s when Furtado ordered his squad to get back into a regular offense. “The spread killed us. We didn’t convert on our open shots,” he said.

Still, the Mustangs did the job defensively against one of the state’s hottest teams. Kaimuki stuttered and struggled through the third quarter against Kalaheo’s man defense. The Mustangs did their share of blind-side trapping, and Kaimuki never got into a rhythm despite getting into the bonus early.

“I challenged our guys, especially after the way Kaimuki beat us last time,” Furtado said. “Last time, (Jimmy) Miyasaka and (Nick) Milan had their way. I challenged William and Neil, and even Chris (Tumaneng) and Matt (Nakashima) because Onaga has been playing well.”

The Mustangs were willing to take their chances with Kaimuki’s outside game. “We wanted to shut them down from the inside out,” Fujita said.

Moore and Elliott drew Miyasaka, who had to work extremely hard to get 17 points. “I was trying to bring energy to the floor,” said Moore, a 5-10 senior. “Jimmy’s a good player. I thought we contained him. I stayed in his pockets.”

The night may be most remembered for the return of Smith, who looks thinner and younger as he continues to rehabilitate from a stroke. “I had tears in my eyes when he got here. I think all the boys were very emotional,” Furtado said. “I just hoped they could still concentrate.”