Grant’s ‘Close Call’ Bulldogs Aim To Win In OIA Playoffs
By Jack Danilewicz
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No one has to remind the Kaimuki boys basketball team that seedings aren’t everything when it comes to postseason positioning.
Lest anyone forget, the Bulldogs were a mere fourth seed a year ago out of the Oahu Interscholastic Association East Conference before responding with a riveting run that saw them claim both the OIA and Division I state titles.
Those achievements are encouraging for the current team, which has had its share of adversity this year.“It’s about who is playing well at the end,” said Kaimuki coach Kelly Grant, whose team will have to win two OIA tournament games this week to guarantee themselves a spot in the state tour-ney.
“Everything that can go wrong has gone wrong,” he admitted.“We had a couple of kids that weren’t able to stay eligible, and we had to dismiss another from the team for disciplinary reasons, and we’ve also had injuries. But the kids are playing the best they can possibly play. They understand that we’re still young and this is a learning experience. We’re having an opportunity to win games at the end, which is good.”
With that in mind, the No. 1 priority this week is “to finish” in games, as the old sports adage goes. Kaimuki, which took a 4-7 record into its finale against Moanalua last Friday, has seen seven of its 11 games decided by seven points or less to date. Grant hopes those close calls will only serve the Bulldogs well as they move into the post-season.
“We have to be peaking at the right time. I’m superstitious. Last year was the Year of the Dog. We never mentioned it (as a coaching staff), but the kids knew it, and they had a feeling the team was destined to go on (deep into the state tournament).”
The current Bulldog team has centered largely on senior leaders Chauncey Nicola and Chezz Ramos-Diaz, 6-foot-5 junior center Desmond Tautofi and guards Ryan Kakitani and David Taulong, the latter of whom have been sidelined with ankle injuries of late. Grant anticipated Taulong possibly returning to the lineup late last week with Kakitani expected to be back for this week’s OIA tournament. The return of both would be a big boost, offensively.
In the locker room, Nicola and Ramos-Diaz lead the way as coaches on the floor, according to Grant. “Their job is to make sure everyone is focused and working hard every day - they’ve both done a great job of being leaders. They’ll both get on people to work harder.”
On the court, Tautofi has had a stellar junior season providing a steady inside presence. He’s in his first full season with the varsity, having been brought up for last year’s state tournament.
“We’re finally in shape,” Grant said.“Desmond has found his legs, and he’s understanding that there is a big difference between JV and the varsity. Sometimes when you’re on the JV, you’re not noticed. He’s in the spotlight now, and he’s realizing that, too. He was immature when he came to us, but he’s maturing, and he knows he has to take on more responsibility with his athletic ability.”
Tautofi’s dominance was best underscored in a 37-point, 18-rebound effort in a 72-70 win over Castle Jan. 26. With Tautofi likely to draw extra attention from opposing teams, the Bulldogs’ fate could be tied to its balance. “The kids being able to play with each other is a key. They all have to understand their roles. They know they’ve been short-handed lately, but you don’t have to score to help the team out. You can contribute in other ways.”
Pairings for the OIA Tournament were to be finalized over the weekend. The top five finishers in the OIA’s postseason will earn berths for the Hawaiian Airlines Division I state basketball tournament, which will take place Feb. 20-23 at various sites yet to be determined.
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