Aiea Ready To Defend OIA DII Title And 13-0 Season
By Jack Danilewicz
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A common characteristic among championship teams has always been their ability to win close games.
Scan the Aiea boys basketball team resume and there are few close encounters.Indeed,so dominant has Na Ali’i been this winter that coach Wyatt Tau hadn’t had a chance to ponder the question of how his team will respond when they find themselves in a tight game again.
“We’re hoping we don’t reach that point,” joked Tau, who led Aiea to an undefeated regular season (13-0). “Actually, we play better under pressure. We’re looking forward to that first game so we can go out and take care of our business.”
Tau was referring to Thursday’s Oahu Interscholastic Association’s Division II playoff opener, which will be Na Ali’i's first step toward defending last year’s DII title. Above all, a win will move them closer to a return trip to the state tournament. The top three finishers in the OIA tournament receive the league’s invitations. A loss, however, would conclude Aiea’s season - a sobering thought for a program that has won 26 of its last 27 games against DII opponents dating back to the beginning of the 2007 regular season.“We practiced hard all year long to get to 13-0, but the kids know it’s all for nothing if we don’t win that first one. Now it’s the second season.”
Na Ali’i have been on guard to avoid a letdown since the beginning of preseason camp.A year ago, having rolled through the White Conference in regular season play, Aiea was upset by Thompson Academy in the first round, ending its season. A few days later, Thompson was forced to forfeit that game to Aiea for the use of an ineligible player. Na Ali’i took advantage of their second chance, going on to win the OIA title in addition to making the state tournament.
“It was the worst feeling, and the kids don’t want that feeling ever again,” Tau said of the loss to Thompson.“They all know because of last year that they can’t take anything for granted.Practices are more intense now than during the season. We tell the kids that we win games in practice, so we’ve cracked down on them this year and they’re just more focused. We can’t stop working hard until we’ve accomplished what we’ve set out to do.”
Pairings for the OIA tournament were to be finalized over the weekend, but Aiea is all but assured of drawing Kalani as its first-round opponent. As the league’s top seed, Tau was anticipating Aiea hosting that game at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
Aiea defeated Kalani 84-59 in the only meeting between the teams Jan. 3, but that game was much closer than the score shows, in Tau’s view. “They gave us a good game the first time and, as a coach, you never take anyone lightly. It seems like every team plays us hard every game. We have to keep playing at our level.”
Na Ali’i are led by an all-star veteran cast that includes James Buchanan, Obie Woods and Joshua Chung. All three have had their share of big games for Na Ali’i this year. Even so, it may be Aiea’s depth that carries it through the post-season.“The guys who have come off the bench have really stepped it up,” said Tau, praising the play of reserves Keenan Naeole, Jarred McKee and Daniel Liilii.“Everyone’s contributing.As a team, these guys have a close bond. A lot of us have been together for three or four years now, and they’re all just happy to get a win.”
The OIA title game is set for 5 p.m. Saturday at McKinley. The Hawaiian Airlines Division II state tournament will run Feb. 20-23 at sites to be announced at a later date.
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