Mustangs Start Season With Three Basketball Classics
By Jack Danilewicz
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It would be easy to label the 2007-08 Kalaheo basketball team as Cheynne Lishman’s team.
In all likelihood, however, the Mustangs’ success this season figures to hinge on the senior guard’s supporting cast.
“Cheynne is a proven entity - we know he is going to be there (in the starting lineup) throughout,” said coach Chico Furtado. “We have some options; these guys all just need game experience. There’s not a whole lot of difference right now between our starters and those who aren’t starting. They’re interchangeable. Our message to the kids is that all spots are up for grabs. There’s always someone playing behind you that can step in.”
Furtado and Company are hoping their 14-game preseason slate will make for a much more experienced team when they open their regular schedule Jan. 2 against defending state champion Kaimuki. Kalaheo was to participate in the Pete Smith Classic over the weekend and also will take part in both the Iolani Classic and the Merv Lopes Classic later in the month. The Mustangs host Campbell in a much-anticipated encounter Friday night.
“There’s a lot of game time to be had,” Furtado said of their pre-season opponents.
Followers of the program will see a very different team than the one that finished third in last year’s state tourney, with 6-foot-6 center Tyler Caswell and fellow veterans Clifton Pires, Koa Siliga and Chase Moses all having completed their eligibility.
“We have some athleticism, so we’re hoping to use that to our advantage,” said Furtado, whose team finished 15-4 overall last year. “We’re hoping to press a little more. By the end of preseason, we’ll know what to hang our hat on, but I’m hoping that our guard play and our depth will be our strengths.”
Enter Lishman, who figures to be one of the better guards in the state at his position. A First Team All-Conference selection in the Oahu Interscholastic Association’s Eastern Division last season, he averaged 14 points per game in league play. He did a lot of his damage from long distance, hitting 28 three-pointers in 12 OIA Red East contests.
“His effectiveness will come down to his being multi-dimensional,” Furtado said. “We don’t want him to depend on only one aspect of his game. He has the ability to get to the basket, and he’s a 90-(percent)plus free throw shooter when he gets to the line.”
Kalaheo’s starting lineup to date has included Taylor Jay, Aaron Fernandez, D.J. Chang and Alika Kaanapu in addition to Lishman, with Richard Preza Haynes, Keano Bruhn, Christian Kepa and Matt Gasperine also figuring into the rotation.
“Taylor Jay has been making a statement at point guard, and Richard is a good prospect. Keano has looked good, defensively. We think we’re pretty balanced. After Cheynne, everyone is pretty close (to each other talent-wise).
“Right now, Cheynne will have to carry the load until everyone else gets caught up,” he added.“In the state tournament, people were able to take things away from him, and we didn’t have anyone else step up and make shots. We’re hoping guys can do it this year.”
Seniors Bruce Andrews and Cody von Appen are still making the transition from football, having been selected to play in this weekend’s Senior Bowl, and will likely be permanently back in the fold next week.
Mustang Notes: Kalaheo held a ceremony last week before its game with Punahou II to designate their playing surface as Pete Smith Court, in honor of the school’s late basketball coach. A pair of logos containing Smith’s signature are now a permanent part of the floor, with one situated directly in front of the Kalaheo bench…Smith led the Mustangs to three state titles and 14 OIA championships. . . Following Friday’s game with Campbell, Kalaheo’s next game is set for Dec. 14 at Aiea.
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