Kapa’a head coach Michael Ban has broken with what seems to be tradition. Where most Kaua’i Interscholastic Federation state championship qualifiers wait until the day of their first game to travel to the appropriate venue — usually Oahu — the
Kapa’a head coach Michael Ban has broken with what seems to be tradition.
Where most Kaua’i Interscholastic Federation state championship qualifiers wait until the day of their first game to travel to the appropriate venue — usually Oahu — the Warriors headed over a day early.
“I think it’ll make a big difference to be there early,” Ban said. “Being rested and comfortable will give our boys a better chance to be successful.”
So, Kapa’a traveled to Honolulu Tuesday in preparation for Wednesday’s Boys Basketball State Championship first round. It plays at 6 p.m. at the McCabe Gym on the campus of St. Louis School.
With 17-5 Leilehua waiting as the opening foe, the Warriors probably should have flown over last Tuesday.
The Mules compiled a 9-0 mark in Oahu Interscholastic Association play before losing in the OIA playoffs to league-rival Mililani.
The loss dropped Leilehua from second to fifth in the state ranking.
“They’re quick, really quick from what I hear,” Ban said of the Mules. “They play a perimeter-style of ball with good guards and athletes all over the floor.”
That quickness, Ban said, allows Leilehua to play a consistent pressure defense.
Expect 6-foot-1 Eric Marshall (16.2 ppg) and 5-8 guard Ricardo Bachelor to cause havoc with their swarming speed.
“They’re going to do a lot of pressing,” Ban said. “They’ll do some zone, some man-to-man. I just hope that we’re able to pick it up and make the proper adjustments.”
While Ban said he’s happy with the draw, playing the Mules may be a bit unsettling for the Kapa’a guards. Having proven inefficient at times during the KIF season, Ban’s undefined backcourt will have to play its best collective game of the season if the Warriors are to entertain victory.
“As you know, we really don’t have a true backcourt, any true guards,” the coach said. “We make a lot of turnovers from that position. That’s something that can’t happen Wednesday. That would be just playing ourselves out of the game.”
Though Ban wouldn’t divulge a starting five, expect seniors Kapu Hendricksen and Chris Lary to get the call at the guard spot. Junior Garrett Danner should provide an energetic burst from the bench and junior Asher Cole may see time in the backcourt as well.
If Kapa’a (12-6, 6-3) is able to advance the ball successfully, it may have an opportunity to keep pace with the Mules. Though Ban stressed Leilehua’s speed, he also said the OIA team didn’t sport the kind of size that would squash the Warriors.
“I’m pretty sure that all their guys are athletic,” Ban said. “They’re going to be able to get up and rebound, but our post players should be able to get their shots off.”
That means 6-foot-5 senior Kekoa Chun should have the opportunity for a productive game. Rhyan Greenleaf should expect to be effective, too.
The KIF’s leading scorer (11.6 ppg) should be able to, at the very least, get his soft jump over Leilehua’s defense. In fact, to a man, the Warriors likely will outsize the Mules at every position in the starting line-up.
However, Kapa’a’s best chance to attack — and a ploy it used in the KIF title game versus Waimea — may be to utilize the athletic ability of juniors Austin Alapai and Kaili Panui. Though the pair received, at times, inconsistent playing time throughout the season, now would be the time for Ban to exploit his most athletic duo.
“Our hope is that we’ll be able to do some things in the post,” Ban said. “That might be what we need to open up our perimeter game.”
Defending the Mules will present a problem all its own.
While Kapa’a has played solid defense in spurts, the Warriors do lack a consistent presence on that side of the ball. Kapa’a yielded the highest KIF point total of the season — 67 to Waimea — on January 12.
It has also shown that a talented guard can penetrate its perimeter forces. Kaua’i’s Lionel Tomacder was able to do it, as was Waimea’s Winnie Arios. If Leilehua is able to do it, the evening could turn quite long.
“We’re going to have to be firm on defense,” Ban said. “Sometimes we do too much reaching. We’re going to have to be fundamentally sound.”
