Castle Girls Strive For Stronger Defense On The Courts
By Jack Danilewicz
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Del.icio.usShould the Castle High School girls basketball team make a return to the post-season in February, the Knights will likely look back at their renewed commitment to solid play on the defensive end.
Knights head coach Jeff McKeown admitted that defense has been the focus in the early days of practice as they prepare for this weekend’s appearance at the Leilehua Pre-Season Tournament.
“We need to get better (defensively),“said McKeown, whose team finished 1-11 in the OIA Red West Conference.“We weren’t very good on that side of the ball, and turnovers were the story of the year for us.
“We’re working hard on the D,” he added.“I told the girls that we had to play zone most of last year because they didn’t buy into our mantoman with the urgency that we needed to have.”
High among his priorities for shoring up the defense is that they “be in a better position to help each other out.”
The Knights will build around seven returnees from last season, including point guard Cailee Awa, who averaged 10.3 points per game as a sophomore. Also back are four-year veterans Nicole Aberilla and Brandee Sasaki and 5-foot-10 junior Leisha Li’ili’i.
The challenge in preseason has been melding a supporting cast that will be comprised mostly of under-classmen.“Right now, there’s been good energy,“McKeown said. “We have a core group that is very experienced and another group that’s very inexperienced. Getting them up to speed without slowing down the core group (of veterans) has been frustrating at times.”
As in past years, Aberilla is the most flexible player and will figure big in McKeown’s plans.“We expect a lot out of her. She’s a kid who has played every position here, and she may have to do that again if our depth doesn’t come through. She’s able to see the court in a way most players can’t, and the game is slower for her because of that.”
Awa “loves basketball and plays whenever she can,” added McKeown.“She’s our best ball-handler, and she’s very quick and fast.”
Li’ili’i was a Division II OIA East Second Team All-Star as a freshman and will provide inside balance and their veteran back court. “She’s very athletic. The transition was a little difficult to Division I for her last year, but we’re expecting her to give us an inside presence. She has good feet, and she has a soft touch, so we’re going to give her a little more freedom in shooting the three(-pointer).”
Sasaki has started at different times during her career, meanwhile, and remains a steadying force.“Her strength is that she’s a very positive influence,” McKeown said. “She works hard, and her strength on the court is her defense.”
Castle plays three preseason games at this week’s Leilehua Tournament. They meet Pearl City at 5 p.m. Wednesday, with games to follow versus Sacred Hearts at 6:30 p.m. Friday and against host Leilehua at 10 a.m. Saturday.
The Knights also will make trips to Waianae Dec. 5 and Nanakuli Dec. 9 for preseason games; their only home appearance is Dec. 12 against Kaiser. Castle plays Kalani in its OIA East Red opener Dec. 17.
In Pearl City, the Knights will face a team on Wednesday that McKeown labels “the favorite in the (OIA Red) West.“Coached by Mike Morton, the Chargers return several key players, including Jordan Ahakuelo, Glacen Florita, Markeshia Manning, Leina Vasquez and Shanise Gabriel-Yomes.
“They should have a terrific team,” McKeown said.
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