Kalaheo Basketball 2008: Working On Being Consistent

Wednesday - January 02, 2008
By Jack Danilewicz
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The only thing consistent about the Kalaheo basketball team to date, to hear head coach Chico Furtado tell it, has been its inconsistency.

“It’s been a little puzzling, but there hasn’t been one aspect of our game that has been consistent,” admitted Furtado. “Part of that is that we’ve been playing nine to 11 guys each game, but every facet of our game needs improvement.”

As his team prepared for Wednesday’s road game at 6:30 p.m. against defending state champion Kaimuki, the emphasis was more on the Mustangs’ own play and less on the Bulldogs’ tendencies.

The schedule may or may not help, with a game at home against Moanalua to follow soon after Wednesday’s showdown with Kaimuki. Should the Mustangs pull off a sweep, however, all would be right in the world.


“We’re not in a position to take anyone lightly, but to win those first two would be huge,” Furtado said. “Having the Moanalua game at home is nice. Hopefully, we’ll have a little advantage, but there’s still the pressure to go out and win that - because we have to go and play them there later on.We want to get things started right.”

Despite its up-and-down existence, the team is coming off a solid preseason in the won-lost column, having entered last Thursday night’s second-round game at the Merv Lopes’ Classic with only three losses in 11 outings.They also played their share of quality teams: Kamehameha-Hawaii, Mid-Pacific, Saint Louis and nationally-ranked Montrose Christian (Maryland), among others.

“It will be a tough start to the season,” Furtado said of playing Kaimuki and Moanalua back-to-back. “Hopefully, our preseason schedule has prepared us for that.”

A healthy lineup would also help. Cody von Appen and Matt Gasparine were sick and missed games last week at the Merv Lopes Classic, while Alika Kaanapu “was hurting a little,” according to Furtado.“Bruce (Andrews) had also missed two games the week before so, right now, we’re trying to get healthy and get a rotation set.”

He anticipates going with the same starting lineup Wednesday as at the end of preseason: Cheynne Lishman, Taylor Jay and D.J. Chang joining Kaanapu and Andrews.Also figuring big in the rotation are Aaron Fernandez, Richard Preza-Haynes, Keano Bruhn and Christian Kepa.

Lishman remains the team’s leader, having entered preseason camp as the only returning starter after enjoying a stellar junior season in 2006-07.


The search for a second go-to player is an ongoing process, in Furtado’s view.“We still need to find some consistency in our scoring, and it has to come from guys other than Cheynne.

“Kaimuki is always good,” Furtado added, “and we haven’t played real consistent. But if we do the things we’re capable of doing, we should be fine.”

Friday’s opponent, Moanalua, should also be a big test for the Mustangs, who will face one of the more fleet-footed guards in the state in Steve Austin.

Three of the Mustangs’ first four games are on the road with visits to Roosevelt Jan. 8 and Kailua Jan. 12.

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