Bulldogs’ Tautofi Bares His Teeth In Div. 1 Tourney Play

Wednesday - March 04, 2009
By Jack Danilewicz
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Kaimuki’s Desmond Tautofi takes a shot. Photo by Nathalie Walker, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

If the Kaimuki basketball team can be neatly summarized among the rest of teams at this week’s Division I State Basketball Tournament, it is almost certainly the one opposing schools least want to play.

With 11 wins in their last 12 games heading into last Thursday’s OIA championship-round game versus Kahuku, the Bulldogs are looking not unlike the Kaimuki team that won the state title in 2007.

“That team also had a lot of seniors who were playing well,” coach Kelly Grant said. “It’s not the same chemistry, but somewhat similar. Everyone’s doing what they’re supposed to be doing on the floor, and everyone is happy.”

The Bulldogs, who began their OIA Red East slate at 0-2 with losses to fellow league powers Kalaheo and Kahuku before making their run, reeled off wins over Radford, defending OIA champion Mililani and Kahuku at the OIA Tournament to advance to last Thursday’s championship game.


A win in that game, versus Kahuku, would have given the Bulldogs the OIA title. A loss would have meant another opportunity on Saturday in a one-game playoff between the Bulldogs and Red Raiders.

Kaimuki was to learn of its first opponent (and game time) for this week’s state tournament late Sunday afternoon. The OIA champion automatically receives a first-round bye, so the Bulldogs had even more

riding over the weekend than trying to capture their third OIA title in four years.

“That would be a boost - to have to play only three games instead of four,” said Grant, whose team’s only loss in the last six weeks came on the road at Kahuku.

For their part, the Bulldogs hope that their balance can pull them through this week. As much as any other team, Kaimuki brings an inside-outside combination to the mix, with 6-foot-2, 255-pound center Desmond Tautofi and guards Ryan Kakitani, David Taulung and relative newcomer Jason Nutter, a Roosevelt transfer who recently became eligible and who has solidified the rotation as a sixth man.

Even with a relentless and deep backcourt, No. 1 on opposing team’s radar may be still Tautofi, who averaged 15 points and 10.7 rebounds in three OIA playoff victories.

“He’s somewhat in shape now, and that makes a big difference,” Grant said. “He’s taken off a good 30 pounds.

“And we have a lot of good ball handlers, that’s our strength. David, Ryan and Jason can all play the point guard position. David knows how to control the tempo of the game. He makes everyone around him better. He can attack the basket and, defensively, he’ll pick your pocket.”


Taulung scored a game-high 21 points to drive the Bulldogs across the finish-line in their playoff win over Radford. Kakitani and Nutter both have had big scoring nights in their careers as well and should play key roles this week, especially on the defensive end, where Grant likes to offer a lot of different looks depending on matchups.

“Jason makes a big difference just with his presence, even though he’s not starting,” Grant said.“He gives us another excellent defender on the ball. Like David, he has a knack for being around the ball.”

Kaimuki’s first priority this week is to first get out of its own way and eliminate self-imposed miscues, according to Grant.

 

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