For Strength In DI Play, Coach Latu Looks To His Bench
By Jack Danilewicz
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Del.icio.usIn a league where the margin for error is slim, Kahuku girls basketball coach Peni Latu knows his team must win the battle within first.
“If you take a minute off in this league,you end up on the losing end in the win-loss column,” he said. “The league is so tight that every game is big in the East.Playing within ourselves is a key.”
The girls have prided themselves as a team without a collective ego to date, relying on balance and a workmanlike approach. In their Oahu Interscholastic Association Red East (Division I) opener March 14,Kahuku beat Kaimuki 57-42 and three nights later overcame a fourth-quarter deficit to edge Kalaheo 48-44. They followed up those performances by beating Moanalua last Thursday to take a 3-0 record into the weekend.
Next up, Latu’s team travels to Kalani for a Saturday game. The Falcons, who won both the DII OIA and state title last May, are off to a solid start in Division I, having beaten defending DI state champ Punahou, among others, in pre-season last month. Kalani took a 3-0 record into the weekend.
“The road isn’t going to get any easier,“said Latu, looking ahead to the Kalani game. “As we improve, everyone else improves, too.”
Kahuku is hoping its win at Kalaheo March 17 will help fuel momentum in the coming weeks.
“It was a big confidence boost for the girls - something we needed. Kalaheo really pushed us to the edge. (Kalaheo standout Shanadee) Canon is by far the best we’ve faced this year.We were really struggling, so I emptied the bench at one point and that really revealed the strength of this team, which is our bench. It’s nice that it doesn’t all fall on the seniors. The bench is going to be a big factor. They’ve really pulled us through so far.”
In addition to a veteran class that features Brittney Fesolai (8.5 points per game), Lenora Nauahi (9.0), Kenra Moe, Keisha Moeai (7.5) and Krystal Manguba-Glove, Latu has seen little drop-off in his talent level when inserting freshmen reserves Taeja Afalava and Vaimalama Tito. Afalava scored a team-high 13 points for Kahuku in its win over Kaimuki, while Tito’s 5 points off of the bench versus Kalaheo figured big in the Kahuku win.Nicole Nautu and MacZeen Ale are also part of the Red Raider rotation.
“Lama is going to be a big factor for us down the road. She scored 5 points against Kalaheo in limited time. And once Taisha picks up on all the little things she lacks now because of her youth, her role is going to expand.”
With such a large rotation, maintaining cohesiveness remains priority as mid-season approaches, according to the coach.
“Everyone is just starting to figure out how to play within themselves. None of them feels like they have to go out and win the game for us. It hasn’t always been the prettiest, but a win is a win.”
The Red Raiders follow up their game with Kalani with a matchup April 4 at home against defending OIA DI champion Roosevelt. Kahuku travels to Kaimuki for a game April 7 in what marks the first game of the league’s second round.
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