Spencer Taking Mules Team To Nevada’s ‘Main Event’

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The road to the 2007-08 Oahu Interscholastic Association Western Division title will pass through Las Vegas for the Leilehua boys basketball team.

“We want them to experience top-notch basketball,“said coach Keith Spencer, who will take his team to the Vision Sports “Main Event"tournament next month in Nevada.

“We’re always trying to motivate our kids in Wahiawa to play basketball, and we thought we needed to expose them to the Mainland. You never know, a Division II or Division III coach might be there, and this will give them exposure. It will also give them a chance to see what it is going to be like in December, when we play in the Iolani Classic.”

Indeed, nothing less than stellar competition awaits the Mules at the “Main Event"with 550 teams set to take part. The tournament will run July 22-26. Leilehua leaves Hawaii on July 21.

Las Vegas has long been a popular destination for Hawaii teams in the summer.Spencer saw the benefits of Mainland tournaments before he became the Mules’ coach when helping former Chaminade University coach Merv Lopes with his traveling all-star teams.

“For us, summer is very important,” said Spencer, whose staff includes Patrick Wetzel and Joshua Jumuwan.“I told the kids we need to be ready.They’re going to be going up against guys who are bigger,faster and quicker than they are. So far, I’ve been real pleased with the whole environment of our practices. The kids are working really hard.”

The Mules, who are coming off a 6-6 season this past winter, have an interesting mix of underclassmen and upperclassmen on their summer team, with four freshmen on their current 10-man roster.

Senior-to-be Kolwin Dixon leads the way among the returnees. A power forward, he’s played on the varsity since his sophomore year.

“He’ll be one of our leaders,” Spencer said. “He had a great junior year, and he’s been getting bigger and stronger in the weight room. His ability to rebound on the offensive end is his strength.”

Also figuring big in the rotation are James Samuel,Andrew Manley, Hoku Kama and Chase Acohido. “James is fundamentally sound - he just needs game experience, so the tournament will be really good for him,” Spencer said.

“We’re looking at Chase to be a defensive stopper.He’s relentless and tough. Andrew has been a big surprise. He has the skills to do really well next year.And we moved Hoku up from the junior varsity at mid-season, so he played some varsity.”

Not since Jumuwan was a player at Leilehua has Spencer had a freshman on his varsity team, but that figures to change in the fall when the Mules begin their pre-season.

“I’m really impressed with them,” he said of his incoming freshman class. “As a class, overall, this is the most talented class I can remember here.

“We want them to bond with the upperclassmen. We have 10 guys going on the trip, and this could be our team (next winter) if the freshmen show they can play.”