Marauders Get Into The Run Of The Game
By Jack Danilewicz
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Del.icio.usShould Waipahu’s girls basketball games resemble track meets this spring, that will be just fine with their head coach, Nadine Villarmia. That would mean the Marauders are playing to their strengths.
“We’ll have to run as much as we can because we’re small,” said Villarmia, whose team finished 3-7 in the Oahu Interscholastic Association’s Division II last season.“We’re going to have to be in the best of shape to outlast the other teams. We’ll probably struggle on the boards unless we can make every shot,” she added with a laugh.
A busy pre-season schedule awaits the Marauders, beginning this week. On Tuesday, Waipahu was to host Leilehua, with Christian Academy set to visit the Marauders for a game at 6:30 p.m.
Feb. 27. Christian Academy, which competes in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division II, boasts one of the state’s top players in Ashley Medcalf. Waipahu will also take part in the Kea’au Pre-Season Tournament on the Big Island March 1-3, where they’ll see plenty of strong competition.
Of Waipahu’s 11 players, six are underclassmen, although the Marauders return three starters in Demi Samson, Marge Siligo and center Chris Noga, who is recovering from an injury suffered last summer. Should Noga return, it would be a big boost to Marauder hopes, according to Villarmia. At 5-feet-10, Noga’s size could figure big for a team that is short overall. No other team member stretches beyond 5-8.
“We’re hoping to have her. She can rebound and score. (Right now) she’s day to day - yesterday was her first day back.”
Samson started at point guard as a junior, but will move to small forward for her senior year to take advantage of her offensive skills.
“Her role will have to change so that she’s more of a scorer,” Villarmia explained. “She can handle the ball, and she’s good at finding people. She passed more last year because we had people who could finish. She understands now that she needs to score more.”
Villarmia labels Siligo, a 5-7 senior forward, as the Marauders’ “top defensive player.”
“She usually watches the other team’s top player when we’re on defense, and she’s our best rebounder.”
Villarmia is also hoping junior forward Lily Donley can have an impact for Waipahu.
“She’s going to be really good for us once she gets going,” Villarmia said.“A lot of juniors will have to step up.
“The potential is there for this team. We have to have everyone for every single game because there are only 11 of us. We have to work hard and get into basketball shape this next month.”
Waipahu plays four of its first five OIA games at home, starting March 13 with their regular-season opener against Kailua.
(The first in a series of girls’ basketball previews.)
Waipahu 2007 Girls Basketball Schedule
March 13 Kailua
March 16 Waianae
March 20 Anuenue
March 23 at Thompson
Academy
March 27 Campbell
March 29 at Kaiser
April 4 at Waialua
April 7 at McKinley
April 11 Castle
April 14 at Thompson
Academy
April 18 at Campbell
April 21 Waialua
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