Trojans Take Road To OIA Postseason One Step At A Time
By Jack Danilewicz
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Del.icio.usThe Mililani girls basketball team may have celebrated Senior Night last week, but the ride is hardly over for the Trojans, who close out the season at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Pearl City.
The game with the Chargers should figure big in the final seedings for next week’s Oahu Interscholastic Association tournament. With a 5-5 record heading into last Friday’s game at Nanakuli, the West’s No. 3 seed seemed within reach.
“That would be huge,” Mililani coach Patrick Basilio said. “Right now, we’re trying not to get the girls too excited about the big picture and just play one game at a time. We’re hoping to win these last two days to gain some momentum.”
As the postseason approaches, the Trojans should be one of the more interesting teams to track. Beset by injuries early on, they have emerged as one of the OIA’s most improved teams over the second half of the season since regaining use of its full roster.
“I can actually see our starting five really playing together now,” said Basilio of his lineup, which has included Joleen Realin, Chelsea Basilio, Chelsea Korodan, Sophie Chang and Mei Akiu of late. “They’ve figured out each other’s strengths, and it’s beginning to show on the court. Leadership has come into play now. Our captains have come a long way. They’re making each player that steps on the floor better.”
To date, balance has been a Trojan strength, in Basilio’s view. “Sophie (Chang) has been our most consistent scorer,” he said, “but on any given night, it can be anybody.”
Realin, who is a four-year starter, had one of her best outings last Wednesday when she scored a game-high 19 points in a 60-38 win over Leilehua. Four days earlier she had missed the Trojans’ game against Aiea in order to compete for the Mililani soccer team in the OIA playoffs. With the JN Automotive State Soccer Championships to be played out this week, Realin will be back permanently with the basketball team for the postseason.
“She was really torn, but I told her to play in the soccer game and that playing in an OIA championship game isn’t an experience you have every day,” Basilio said. “It (the timing) should all work out now.”
A shoulder injury had slowed Chelsea Basilio last week, and she missed the Leilehua game, but she had been cleared by doctors to play in time for last Friday’s game with Nanakuli. In the Trojans’ 53-42 loss to Aiea Jan. 19, she tallied a team-high 17 points.
The Trojans will need their entire lineup for the Pearl City game, where a playoff-type atmosphere can be expected. The Chargers won the first meeting between the teams 43-32 on Jan. 7 and took a 4-6 record into last weekend, one game behind Mililani in the West standings.
“They really took it to us in the first half of that game,” Basilio recalled.“Their record isn’t indicative of how competitive they are. It should be an awesome game. They’re like us in that they had some people missing earlier, but both teams should be at full strength.”
Defense remains the Trojans’ strength as they head into Thursday’s game, Basilio said. “We really have to keep up the defensive intensity. At times, we lapse and get back on our heels instead of attacking. If we can be intense for four quarters, we should be in every game at the end.”
In addition to their starting five, the Trojans also have received solid defensive play from reserves Glenelle Nitta and Celina Garces. “Footwork-wise, and as far as not missing their assignments, they’re two pretty good defensive stoppers.”
The top five finishers in next week’s OIA Tournament earn berths for the upcoming Hawaiian Airlines Division I State Basketball Tournament.
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