Red Raiders Prepare For OIA DII Playoffs This Weekend
By Jack Danilewicz
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Del.icio.usKahuku head girls basketball coach Junior Avei can always tell if his team is on track by the spring in their steps as they are converting from defense to offense.
Actually, the Red Raiders’ offense is largely a by-product of their defense.
“I like to dictate the pace of play,” said Avei. “We want to apply lots of pressure and make the other team do things that they’re not comfortable with on the floor. I think we’re getting better defensively as a team. That was an issue early-on, but as we’ve gone along, the girls have understood the speed and intensity we want to play with.”
As the Red Raiders prepare for the start of the OIA Division II playoffs this weekend and next week, they would seem right on schedule. They tied with Kaimuki for the regular-season crown with a 9-1 mark, and were awaiting a coin flip over the weekend that was to determine their seeding for the post-season. Pairings and game times were to be announced on Sunday.
But while Kahuku finds itself in a good position at present, there was no direct line to the Red Raiders’ success this season, according to Avei. Kahuku played a preseason schedule that consisted exclusively of Division I programs, and had a pair of highly regarded transfers to incorporate into the fold as well as the usual group of players, making the transition from the junior varsity level to varsity.
“Early on, we struggled,” admitted Avei, who moved into the head coaching job in the off-season in place of David Te’o, who has stayed on as an assistant. “Our chemistry and continuity were not where we wanted them to be. In the last few weeks - since the regular season started - the girls are definitely starting to understand more what we’re asking of them. They’re feeling a lot better about where we’re at, and I’m feeling a lot better.”
The Red Raiders won the OIA DII title last season and are certainly among the favorites again this week. Kahuku’s only loss was a two-point setback to Kaimuki on Jan. 11. The Red Raiders won the other meeting between the teams, 67-39, on Dec. 26. The OIA Tournament holds additional significance in that the top three finishers earn the league’s berths for the Hawaiian Airlines DII State Basketball Tournament, which will take place Feb. 16-19 at various sites.
The Red Raiders welcome back key veterans Hiilei Cummings and Rachel Tailele from last season’s OIA title team, and also added the services of newcomers Natallia Cravens and Joshlyn Noga, who transferred from LaHoya High (Calif.) and Roosevelt, respectively. All four have been paramount to the Red Raiders’ success this season.
Cummings has been the Red Raiders’ leading scorer to date and has played all five positions, although she normally plays in the three, four or five spot in Avei’s system.
“She’s led our surge as far as our playing better team basketball,” he said of Cummings.“She’s a difficult matchup with where we play her. She is one of our better shooters, and she’s quick enough and handles the ball well enough to get to the basket.”
Tailele is the Red Raiders’ point guard and is in her third year as a starter, although only a junior.
“She handles the ball well and moves really well up and down the floor,” Avei said of Tailele, whose sister Carla was a stand-out point guard in the program. “Physically, she’s always had all the skills. We’re trying to work more with her on the mental aspects of the game - making better decisions on the floor while moving at that speed.”
In the post, Avei credited Noga with making “a big impact for us.”
“She gives us a real presence inside,“Avei added.“We expect her to have a double-double (double digits in rebounds and points) every game, and she’s done that in the league for the most part.”
Cravens, who is 5-foot-11, also has solidified the Red Raiders’ inside play.
“She’s a high-energy player who gets up and down,” Avei said of Cravens. “We challenged her before the regular season to rely more on her instincts and talents and not worry about playing the perfect game. We’ve been seeing results lately, and we think she can produce even more.”
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