Mules Striving For Balance In Boys Basketball Season
By Jack Danilewicz
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Del.icio.usNo one has to remind the Leilehua boys basketball team that it’s all about how you finish rather than how you start - as seen by several players from the football team, which completed a riveting run to the Division I state championship in November.
“It took them (the football team) a little time to get things rolling, and hopefully we can (peak late) also,” said coach Keith Spencer.“Our goal is to get into the playoffs and be playing our best basketball in February. We talk to the kids all the time about getting better every day.”
The by-product of the football run was a late start for the basketball team. But a largely veteran cast could allow them to minimize the transition between seasons.
“Time is going against us, but we just have to get better quicker than the others,“said Spencer,whose team was 2-9 against one of the state’s toughest preseason schedules, with play in both the Iolani and Merv Lopes classics.“It was by design that we scheduled a tough preseason for our seniors.We’ve been real inconsistent, but the potential is there.”
One steady is forward Art Laurel, a 6-foot-1 senior in his third varsity year. “Our post play has been our strength - Art has played really well,” Spencer said. “He’s done everything we’ve asked of him, and he’s been our most consistent scorer. He and (guard) Hoku (Kama) have carried the team so far. Hoku has been good.What we have to do is find three or four guys who can complement what Art’s been doing. Kolwin (Dixon) has been in a little bit of a slump.”
With that in mind, as Leilehua entered its OIA Red West opener last week against Campbell, emphasis was on offensive production.
“Our defense is ahead of our offense, which is good. The defense is there, but we’re still going to have to put up some points.We just have to start making some shots. When we do that, things will even out. We’re averaging in the mid 30s right now, and that’s not good enough.
The Mules centered their rotation around freshman Bryann Hollis and junior Dillion Pauu in addition to veterans Kama, Laurel and Dixon for the Campbell game.On the heels of that, the Mules were to take on Radford last Friday, Kapolei Tuesday and Waianae at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Waianae.
“It looks like we’ll go with three guards (in Hollis, Pauu and Kama).”
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