Chargers Staying Confident
By Jack Danilewicz
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Lindsay Cartwright dribbles past Kaiona Auyong during a recent basketball
practice at Pearl City High School. Photo by Byron Lee, staff photographer.
As the Pearl City girls basketball team moves through the second round of OIA Western Division play,one sentiment continues to run through the entire team.
“They know they have to be able to finish,“said coach Mike Morton, whose team had a 1-4 record at press time.“We lost to both Leilehua and Mililani after leading almost the entire game. Against Kapolei, we were finally able to get a lead and hold onto it, so the kids are confident.”
The Chargers visit Mililani Thursday in a key West matchup and the program’s first-ever appearance on statewide television. OC-16 will carry the game at 7:30 p.m. Despite the added distractions of a televised game,Morton welcomed the opportunity for his team.
“The game was moved (from its original date for television), so the kids are very aware of it,and they’re excited,“Morton said of playing on TV.“The boys have been on, so it’s good for the girls to get some exposure; but we try to focus on one game at a time, so we’re thinking more about (last Wednesday’s opponent) Campbell.”
Though small in size, the Chargers have been able to compensate with quickness and solid defensive play this season, a trend they’ll need to continue if they are to get back into the race in the West.
“Our defense has been outstanding,” Morton said. “We’re probably the smallest team in the West, but we’ve been good at pressuring the ball and causing turnovers.We’ve relied on defense and discipline. Right now, our defense is ahead of our offense, but our offense is catching up.”
Coach Mike Morton shares a light moment with Pearl City seniors Tazha Passi, Lindsay
Cartwright, Crystal Tadeo, Channette Nakama and Tiffany Manning. Photo by Byron Lee, staff
Balance has also carried Pearl City to date with their offensive output spread among its members.
“Our kids work really good together, and they rely on each other,“he said.“In every game we’ve had different people step up. They (teams we play) can’t really shut down one person when they play us.”
Junior guard Tiani Alatani is the team’s leading scorer at 8.6 points per game, while the Chargers also have big contributions from forwards Tazha Passi and Tiffany Manning,and guards Crystal Tadeo, Lindsay Cartwright and Channette Nakama.
Rounding out the team are Desiree Luis, Chelsea Baker, Tiffany Gadingan,Kasie Kunishima,Kaiona Auyong and Kawai Markham.
“Our work ethic at practice has been great, the best we’ve had here in awhile,” said Morton, who led Pearl City to West titles in 2002 and 2003.“We’re not that talented, but we work. That’s been our strength.”
In addition to its work ethic, the team has warmed up to their uptempo style of play, which is plenty of shots from behind the 3-point line.“We’re not afraid to shoot the three(pointer),” Morton laughed. “Tiani is leading the league (in three-pointers with 9). We’re shooting it as much if not more than anyone else in the West. We’ve put a new (offensive) system in for this year, we’re more of a spread-motion team now, and it’s working well. Lately, we’ve been working really hard on our discipline and patience on offense. We have to pick and choose our shots better and work at breaking down the defense.”
With that in mind, Morton hopes for another stellar defensive effort from his team Thursday when the Chargers will face Mililani’s Christina Korodan, one of the West’s top performers.
“We definitely have to shut her down,” Morton said of Koradan. “She had 17 against us in our first meeting - 11 at the free-throw line - so we fouled her too much.We’ll know better next time.”
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