Bantolina Hits The Ground Running In New Coaching Gig

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If newly hired girls head basketball coach Jody Bantolina has her way, the Campbell High Sabers will play at a pace all their own when they return to action next winter.

“We’ll run, run and run some more,“said Bantolina,who has spent the last four years heading the JV team at the school. “I learned from my own coach (Campbell’s Danette Tano) about pressing and running. We’ve had good size here the last few years, so we haven’t been as fast as I’ve seen us.”

The Sabers are clearly a program re-inventing itself this spring - with the retirement of coach Nathan Macadangdang and the loss of four starters to graduation - but the transition could be easier with the appointment of Bantolina, who lends some stability, having also spent 1992-99 as an assistant at Campbell before coaching stops at both McKinley and Nanakuli.

While Bantolina begins with a fresh roster - Oli Kila is the lone returning starter for 2008-09 - the Sabers have plenty of momentum after capturing the Division II state basketball tournament in March.

“I don’t see it as pressure, but more of a challenge,“Bantolina said of her appointment.“I like helping to teach the girls life skills through basketball. It’s a blessing to have the opportunity to mentor the girls at Campbell.”

A 1991 Campbell graduate who lettered all four years in basketball, Bantolina (formerly Curran) joined the staff only a year out of high school, when she was asked by then-head coach Alan Nash to help out. As part of her second stint at Campbell, she helped tutor the class that helped bring home the state title in March.

Bantolina also has been active through the years with the Ewa Boys and Girls Clubs, especially the junior NBA program. Her relationship with that program figures to help Campbell attract talent from within the community.

“We try to start them off in seventh or eighth grade,” she said.

Bantolina’s first priority was to find a summer league for the team in June and July.With her appointment coming at a late date, Bantolina expected Campbell would concentrate on scheduling a series of scrimmages with other Oahu programs in addition to holding several summer practice sessions.

As a third-year varsity player, Kila will likely lead the way early on for the Sabers, who finished 18-2 overall last season.

“Oli is very playful and energetic and lots of fun to be with,” Bantolina said.

Campbell also hired Zerrick Jackson as its boys varsity coach to replace Glen Flores, who retired from coaching following last season. Jackson spent the last few years as head JV coach and is Campbell’s fourth head boys coach in the last five years.