With Knights, Everybody Scores
By Jack Danilewicz
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Last week may have marked Castle’s first OIA post-season appearance in more than four years, but the Knights hardly played like a team that was “just happy to be there"in their resounding 66-22 rout of Waialua.
Not that the Knights Nation didn’t soak it in anyway.
“It was something they’d been waiting for,” said coach Jeff Hiro. “It was the first playoff experience for everyone on our team.“That win had moved the Knights to within a game of clinching a spot in the Division II State Basketball Tournament and gave them an 11-2 record heading into the weekend.
While the win over the Bulldogs hardly added to their resume - except for advancement toward the state tournament, that is - the Knights showcased their now-customary balance in that game with 11 different players scoring.
“If you follow our scoring, it’s never the same guy - always someone different,” Hiro said.“It’s been a total team effort. We’ve been balanced, including the guys coming off of the bench, so you can’t rely on trying to stop one guy, maybe two.”
Hiro’s starting lineup has included Michael Santos, Nick Tuamoheloa, Isaiah Tilton and KJ Aipia throughout the season, with the fifth spot belonging to either Adam Canne or Jordan Aleki, depending on who they’re playing. Russell Ige, Jaryth Richardson-Acoba, Dennis Barientos, Moses Alalimoot and Brent Roberts also figure into the rotation.
As the No. 1 seed out of the East for the OIA Tournament, the team was to travel to Waianae last Friday for a second-round game in hopes of guaranteeing itself a state tournament berth. The trip also would mark the second this season for Castle, which also won at Waianae, 53-43, Jan. 14. That night was memorable for another reason: It was the first game in which Hiro unveiled a matchup zone defense. The Knights had played strictly manto-man to that point since the beginning of preseason.
“It was the first game we used multiple defenses, and we looked terrible that night,” Hiro said in humor. “It gives the opposition a different look. It was hard at first, but we stayed with it, and now they have the concept of it.”
In fact, defense has remained the Knights’forte throughout.They split their season series with both Kailua and Roosevelt, the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds out of the East, but had won all nine of its other games entering the weekend.
“That’s what’s been winning games for us - our defense,” he said.“Defense leads to offense. Our offense since the beginning of the season has been acceptable. It’s not where we want it to be yet, but the defense has been sound.”
Hiro also is pleased with his team’s mental preparation of late. “Our basic overall attitude (has been one of the team’s strengths). They’re believing in what we want from them. That has contributed to their play on the floor.”
The OIA Tournament continues this week with games Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Matchups were dependent on the outcome of last weekend’s games, which included action Friday and Saturday. The league, which is in its first year of holding a double-elimination tournament, receives three berths to the state tournament. The state tournament is March 4-7 at high school sites as well as Blaisdell Arena.
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