Pearl City, Kapolei Ready For State Basketball Tournament
The final test for the Pearl City and Kapolei basketball teams has arrived, as both will take part in state tournament this week. Pairings for the event, which runs Tuesday through Saturday at various sites, were to be revealed on Sunday. A look at both teams’ prospects follows.
Kapolei High
Record: 11-1 overall, 10-0 during the OIA season, heading into last weekend’s game for third place
What’s next: The Hurricanes were to learn of their first-round opponent Sunday
How they got here: The team won all 10 of its games in the OIA West to earn the league’s No. 1 seed for the OIA tournament.
A win over East No. 4 seed Kahuku lifted Kapolei into the semifinals, where it was defeated last Wednesday for the first time this year by Moanalua. It was to meet Farrington in the third-place game over the weekend, already having secured a berth at states
Key wins: Over Mililani (47-28) Jan. 3; over Pearl City (47-44) Jan. 26; over Campbell (51-39) Feb. 4; over Kahuku (48-44) Feb. 9
Players to watch: Curtis Tavares (10.4 points per game), Chris Dillard (9.8), Zach Reeves (7.9)
What to watch: The Hurricanes figure to be in a hungry mood after their bid to make the OIA post-season championship for a second year in a row fell just short last week with their loss to Moanalua. Even so, the team should be poised to make some noise this week if it can get its free throw shooting untracked. Kapolei uncharacteristically made just nine of 27 from the charity stripe in the Moanalua game. Balance and senior leadership have been its strength all year with several players capable of big-scoring nights. The Hurricanes are at their best when they have an inside presence going with Dillard and perimeter shooting from their guards. Kapolei’s 47 three-pointers to date led the West.
Pearl City High
Record: 10-2 versus OIA competition, heading into last weekend’s conference tournament fifth-place game
What’s next: This week’s Division I state tournament. (The Chargers were to learn of their first-round opponent Sunday, if they made the field.)
How they got here: They went 9-1 in the season, losing only to Kapolei, to earn the West No. 2 seed for the OIA tournament. Following a loss to East No. 3 seed Farrington, Pearl City bounced back to defeat Campbell in the consolation bracket and had already earned one of the league’s five berths for this week, heading into their game with Mililani last Saturday.
Key wins: Over Mililani (45-36) Jan. 5; over Leilehua (43-29) Jan. 9; over Campbell (45-36) Jan. 13
Players to watch: Sonny Glisson (9.9 points per game), Tyson Hickcox (9.7), Isaac Amorin (6.6)
What to watch: The Chargers were just a couple of plays away from going through their OIA season undefeated, as an overtime loss to Kapolei Jan. 26 was the only blemish. Their only other loss was to East No. 3 seed Farrington in last week’s OIA post-season tourney. With that in mind, the Chargers could be a “tough out” at states, in large part because their best offense is its defense. Coach Lionel Villarmia’s team gave up more than 40 points only twice during its 10-game season, and one was the aforementioned overtime contest with Kapolei. Glisson has been a steady performer all season, especially of late with nine three-pointers in his last three outings. He’s also averaged 3.3 per game during that span.
