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Utility Players Key In Trojan Girls Basketball Season

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Mililani head Girls basketball coach Patrick Basilio regards the members of his current team as generalists rather than specialists.

“Overall, we definitely have more depth, and that makes it easier. We have a lot of kids who can play a lot of different positions. We should be even more flexible in our substitutions.”

Flexible also is the word that best describes Basilio in recent months. In addition to losing the talented trio of Chelsea Basilio, Sophie Chang and Glenelle Nitta to graduation in May, the Trojans also lost highly regarded guard Jordan Sakai, who elected to home-school this year.

If anything, the Trojans’

OIA Red West opponents will be miscalculating in a big way if they think they have a lead on Mililani’s personnel. “Three-fourths of our team weren’t with us during summer league, so we basically have a new team,” the coach explained. “We look better than I anticipated right now. There are so many unknowns, but from what we’ve seen in practice, we’re excited to get this team started.”

Mililani took part in the McKinley preseason tourney last week and will travel to the Big Island for the Waiakea tourney this week, with games on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

The Trojans finished 8-4 in the Red West a year ago, Basilio’s second as head coach. While four of five starters have since departed, the program received a shot in the arm recently when Courtney Senas elected to return to the hardwood after having not played the sport since her freshman year. Senas is one of the top softball players in the state and has already committed to attend Division I Florida State in the fall.

“She’s one of our big surprises so far,” Basilio said. “I can see why she received a full ride to Florida State. She’s a gifted athlete - unbelievable. She also brings a nice attitude, and her work ethic is unreal.”

Basilio was equally high on post player Darcey Goulsby when she was a freshman a year ago, and his faith was rewarded when she came through with a solid season in 2008-09 that also earned her Second Team All-OIA West honors. This time around, she’s the “go-to” girl among the returnees.

“She plays year-round, and she’s always ready to step in at any time,” Basilio said. “We’ll build around her. She has all tools - a great first step and a decent midrange shot. We want to see her expand her game for college.

“She’s also helping to bring along our other center,” he added of senior Pomai Grube-Hose.“Toward the end of last season, she went to the Mainland for a trip, and we really missed her in the (OIA) playoffs. Her strength right now is her rebounding - she’s attacking the boards well. Low-post play is our strength, which is a 180-degree turn from last year (when Mililani was guard-oriented).”

Asked if Goulsby and Grube-Hose might appear together in the lineup, Basilio noted that such an arrangement will depend on matchups.“It will depend on who we’re playing. Darcey has already asked me about it. She offers her opinion a lot. Sometimes she corrects us.”

Basilio also envisions a solid senior year for off-guard Amber Ogata, who earned valuable minutes last season, especially on the back end of the schedule.

“She’s been putting lots of time in and shooting the lights out. It was always more mental that physical with her. She has all the tools. I’ve seen her confidence level shoot up since last year. She’s ready.”

One area critical to the Trojans’ prospects for this season will be point guard play. Basilio will count on sophomore Kellie Sakai, senior Tiffany Lagua and junior Moriah Blackmon to direct the Trojans, offensively.

“Our point guards are all unproven in our eyes, but we think any of them can step in at any time,” he said.

Mililani will meet Hilo High at 6 p.m. in its first round on Thursday as part of the Waiakea Tournament. Friday night, the Trojans take on host Waiakea at 7:30 before finishing up Saturday versus Honaka’a, also at 7:30 p.m.

On the heels of the Trojans’ trip to the Big Island this week, Mililani will play a preseason road game at Leilehua Dec. 9. The following night, they close out their preseason with a home date versus Roosevelt.

Mililani’s OIA opener is set for Dec. 15 at home against Radford.