TGI Sports Editor She’s got size, strength and a deep vat of athletic ability. The problem is, she will be lining up against Waimea Friday night. State player-of-the-year candidate Brandy Richardson and her No. 2-ranked Kalaheo Mustangs will take the
TGI Sports Editor
She’s got size, strength and a deep vat of athletic ability.
The problem is, she will be lining up against Waimea Friday night.
State player-of-the-year candidate Brandy Richardson and her No. 2-ranked Kalaheo Mustangs will take the floor opposite the Menehunes in the opening round of the 2001 Hawaiian Airlines Girls State Basketball Championship. The game is set for 7 p.m. at McKinley Gymnasium.
“Our girls see her all over the news and in the newspapers and there’s a little intimidation,” Waimea coach Elton Montemayer said. “There’s no doubt that she’s an impressive player.
“But she’s also human.”
That remains to be seen. The 5-foot-10 Richardson has already signed to play for the University of California at Santa Barbara and is in search of her third player-of-the-year award.
Against third-ranked Aiea in the Oahu Interscholastic Association title game Tuesday night, Richardson scored 41 points and ripped down 14 boards as the Mustangs (12-0) cruised, 67-51. Aiea brought a 10-0 record into the game.
“We know we’ve got a tough battle ahead of us,” Montemayer said. “But we’re happy to be where we’re at. If we don’t get stuck being in awe, maybe we can make some noise.”
The Menehunes have already done that in the Kaua’i Interscholastic Federation.
Perhaps expected to finish third in the three-team KIF, Waimea emerged from the shadows of a 0-8 preseason record to capture the league title.
And the Menehunes (4-2) boast a star of their own in Robyn Manuel. The senior is averaging just under 14 points per game and scored 23 in the Menehunes championship victory over Kaua’i on May 15.
“It’s no secret that Robyn will be the player we go to,” Montemayer said. “We’re going to see if we can get [Kalaheo] to do some switching and maybe we can get Robyn in some mismatches.
“But we know we’re going to have to get great efforts all around.”
Every Waimea player will have to uncork her best game if the team is to stay close. That will mean center Erin Castillo, averaging 11 ppg, will have to play bigger than her stocky 5-foot-9 frame.
It will mean junior Melody Manuel will have to continue her offensive surge. She averaged 15 ppg during the two rounds of the KIF round-robin tournament, and was the difference in Waimea’s victories.
It will mean stellar play from the Menehunes’ role players and bench.
“We’ve got solid players who will have to play great games,” Montemayer said. “We’ll need a big effort from our bench, especially defensively.
“But whatever happens, we’re excited to be in the position, getting this experience.”
Waimea also will face the added difficulty of time constraint. Because of the state’s decree forbidding students to miss school for athletic competition, the Menehunes will have to travel from the west side of Kaua’i to downtown Honolulu in about four-and-a-half hours.
“We’re flying in three shifts,” Montemayer said with a chuckle. “Me and the starting five are going at 3:45 p.m. Then my father and the rest of the team at 4:30 p.m. and then my wife and fans on a 5:15 flight or something.
“It’s crazy.”
The Skinny
– What: State Girls’ Basketball Tournament
– Who: Waimea vs. Kalaheo (OIA #1)
– When: Friday at 7 p.m.
– Where: McKinley High School, Oahu
