Furtado Rounds Up Skilled ‘Weapons’ For Hawaii Select

Del.icio.us

With All-Star teams, the search for cohesiveness is an ongoing process. Hawaii Select head girls basketball coach Chico Furtado is prepared for as much this week when his team assembles for the first time to prepare for the summer season.

“Like always, we have talent and we have to mesh them together,” said Furtado, who recently retired as Kalaheo’s head boys coach. “We try to get a balance. Hopefully, we can represent a lot of schools.”

As in past years, Hawaii Select will boast key contributors from the Windward side with post player Hailey Maeda (Punahou, Kailua ), guard Ashley Agcaoili (Maryknoll, Kaneohe ) and Kaui Kealoha-Cummings (Kamehameha, Kailua ) all figuring big in Furtado’s plans.

Hawaii Select begins play in the Kalaheo Summer League in a couple of weeks, where they face a nine-game schedule. From there, they will hold a series of scrimmages against local college players in preparation for the annual HS trip to Las Vegas in late July. This year, Furtado entered the team in the inaugural Adidas Super 64.

“They’ve always run a premier men’s tournament, and this year they’ve added girls divisions for 16- and 17-year-olds,” he said.

Hawaii Select has found Las Vegas a hospitable place in recent years on the court and off. In 2004 and 2005, they won the Main Event, while finishing as runner-up in 2006 and as a quarter-finalist in 2007. This time Furtado is building around four returnees from last year’s team - Brydgette Tatupu-Leopoldo (Farrington), Dejah Faasoa (Kaimuki) and Kristin Liana (Roosevelt), in addition to Maeda.

Maeda had a stellar state tournament for Punahou in February and should give HS a strong inside presence.

“She had a real good year,” Furtado said.“She had to sit out a year after transferring from Iolani, and it took her awhile to get into her groove, but she showed (how good she is) in the state tournament. She really battled.

“Hailey is one who does-n’t have to score to be successful - she can defend, she boards well,” he added.“Her (shooting) touch is good around the basket. We’re going to allow her to do more as far as shooting the ball. We’d like to have her shoot farther from farther away, which will make her more attractive to college coaches.”

Furtado likes the pace Agcaoili plays at, meanwhile, making her a nice complement to Faasoa, who was the OIA Division II Player of the Year last winter. “Ashley can run the two (off-guard spot), or the point (guard spot). She’s a lefty, she’s very athletic and runs the floor well. She shoots the medium-range shots well. We’d like to see her increase her range to three (-point range).”

Kealoha-Cummings played JV at Kamehameha last season and caught the eye of Furtado, who was recruiting his team.

Lahela Usui (Iolani), Alex Masaquell (Iolani), Kyllie Maeda (Iolani), Shaina Kawakami (Roosevelt) and Quynne Eharis (University High) round out the team. Kyllie Maeda is recovering from ACL surgery and won’t play, but will be with the team and is expected to compete with Hawaii Select in 2011.

Even with her absence, Furtado likes his options with the remaining 10 on his roster. “We’re versatile,” said Furtado, who is assisted by Kavin Denning. “We have guards who can handle the ball and push it. Hailey and Kristin are strong in the post, and Alex and Quynne are lanky and athletic. They can give us a little more offense. We also think we’ll have good leadership in Dejah, Hailey (Maeda) and Bridgette, who is back for her third year.”

The 2010 summer season will mark the first time in seven years that Furtado’s niece, Puulei, won’t be with the team. Puulei Furtado, who played basketball at Kahemehameha, recently accepted a scholarship to Utah State.