Despite Wins, Sabers Still Need To Improve Their Defense
By Jack Danilewicz
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Del.icio.usFour games into Campbell High’s season, head basketball coach Wyatt Tau still considered his team a work in progress.
Indeed, while the Sabers came out of that stretch with a 3-1 mark and wins over Kapolei, Aiea and Leilehua, Tau was still on the defensive after transition play and rebounding issues undermined his team’s momentum during the first two weeks.
“We’re talking a lot about defense,” said Tau, who is in his first year as Campbell head coach after leading Aiea to a pair of OIA Division II titles in his previous stint with Na Ali’i. “Offense comes easily. Defense - you really have to want to do it.”
Foremost on Tau’s mind last week was Campbell’s lone loss in OIA Red West play - a 79-70 setback to league-leader Mililani Jan. 7 before a statewide TV audience.
“I’ve watched it over and over (on film) and, with respect to Mililani, we just played terrible,” he said. “I saw us standing around too much - standing and looking at our shots. To score 70 and still call it a bad game (for Campbell), I think we’re just a step away, but it’s been a recurring thing.”
Campbell’s chance for redemption against the Trojans was to come on Tuesday in the second meeting between the teams in Mililani. A home game on Friday against rival Kapolei is next for Campbell.
All told, the Sabers are in a stretch of playing six games in 10 days, by the time the Kapolei encounter wraps.
Rebounding has also been a focus, as Tau observed in the earlier loss to Mililani. “We have to box out (in rebounding attempts) and get back on defense,” he said. “If we do those two things, we’ll be fine. They killed us in those areas, and we have to pressure the ball. Defense has been a recurring issue.
“We’re quick enough to do it, but we still break down here and there. It’s all our fault. We have to do a better job of coaching and a better job of playing. It goes both ways. We put that together, and we’ll be all right. They’re good kids, and they’re learning every day.”
Post player Christian Storment and point guard Kristian Manuel have been team leaders to date in a lineup that also features veterans Clayton Darity and Mason Mau.
While Tau has challenged his team to be better in transition and on the defensive end, the Sabers have seen their cohesiveness multiply in recent weeks.
“We’re becoming more of a team instead of a bunch of individuals, and that’s what stands out,” he said. “Our system is about everybody, and you need everyone to understand what you’re doing. It doesn’t always look like it, but our communication is better on the court now and we’re getting better with each game. Some of the kids are still learning, but hopefully we start peaking at playoff time.”
Campbell defeated Friday’s opponent, Kapolei, 71-27 on Jan. 2, but Tau expects a sterner test this time around.
“We worry about every team - that’s my mindset,” he said. “The second time around is always a tougher game. It took us awhile to get going that first game with them. We have to be ready to play. Every team is a good team.”
Following the Kapolei game Friday, the Sabers will host Aiea next Monday, then have a three-day break before another home game Jan. 29 versus Waipahu.
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