Kalaheo: Good Guards, Not Much Height
By Jack Danilewicz
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As Thursday’s preseason matchup with Pearl City tests the Mustangs for the first time, head coach Chico Furtado is focused on dynamics.
“I’m hoping to get a lot of questions answered this weekend,” he said. “It should be a good start for us. Pearl City is usually a pretty steady team.”
The game is the first of three in three days for Kalaheo as part of the Pete Smith Classic. Also playing are Roosevelt, Campbell, Le Jardin, Saint Louis, Mililani and Academy of the Pacific. Kalaheo plays either Campbell or Le Jardin in its Friday game. The Saturday opponent will be determined by the results of Day One and Day Two.
High on Furtado’s priority list is developing play in the post with what has the makings of a solid back court returning the fold.
“We’re not very big - 6-(foot)-2 is the biggest we’ll have at that position - so we need to bring some people along there (inside),“he said.“It will be a work in progress all year. Our strength right now is our guards.”
Senior guards Aaron Fernandez, Kona Makaula and Kevin Leong all return and should anchor the team early on.Fernandez was a starter last season, while Makaula saw his share of significant minutes, and Leong played in spots.The team finished 14-8 last year, including an 8-4 in the OIA Red East Conference.
Should Fernandez have the year Furtado expects, how the supporting cast comes around will be a huge factor.
“Aaron is going to be our main guy (scoring-wise), but I think that everyone we play knows that,” Furtado said.
Fernandez was not with the team during summer league, which prompted others to become more assertive on the offensive end.
“Kona had some experience last year, and he knows what to expect now. He’s come in more focused, and he’s a little more mature. His biggest asset is when he’s shooting the ball consistently. He has long-range capability. He just has to stay within the framework of the offense. He carried the load during the summer, and that helped his confidence.We expect him to get some open looks because of (attention paid to) Aaron (Fernandez).”
At point guard, Leong is the projected starter. “He has good vision. He can penetrate the defense and dish (the ball off to others) - that’s one of his strengths. We’re working on his decision making, but he has enough skill.”
Flex-motion offense aside, Kalaheo’s defensive play has always been its forte. Furtado sees his current team getting it done “by committee.”
“We’ll probably mix and match a little because of our lack of size. We won’t be predominantly playing man(-to-man defense).”
In Furado’s view, senior Zach Lovelace has the skill set to play the kind of defense to which the team has become accustomed.
“From here to there, he’s as quick as anyone on the team. He’s played football, and he’s played for us. He’s just a real athletic kid.He jumps well,and he’s incredibly quick.”
As for the inside game, he said,“We’re working a whole bunch of people there. It’s going to be wait and see at that spot.”
Six-foot-1 sophomore Jordan Reindollar, who played for the Mustang JV last season, is getting a good look from the coaching staff.
“He had a pretty good summer. We just have to get him up to (the speed of) the varsity level. He’s a guy we’re looking to at the four (forward) spot.”
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