The Farrington Governors got one part of the mission done.
They just didn’t have a way to fill in the rest of the blanks. Farrington limited Moanalua’s high-scoring junior, Geremy Robinson, to just 13 points, but Na Menehune still coasted to a 72-36 win on Thursday night to open OIA regular-season play.
Farrington used a box-and-one defense to limit Robinson’s touches, but Elijah McGruder came through with 10 points and nine rebounds, and Kyle Hughley added 11 points. Jibraun Emerson was the glue man with seven points, four boards, three assists and three steals for Moanalua (6-7 overall).
“They did that to me last year, but this season, that’s a first,” said Robinson, who shot 5-for-9 from the field, adding five rebounds, one steal and one assist. “It was all right. We still won by 30. As long as we win.”
Interim head coach Col. Michael Wingfield saw Moanalua give up some points in the paint early. The home team led 17-13 after one quarter. Farrington hustled for four offensive rebounds in the opening period thanks to Darius Chaffin, RJ Wong and Christian Selga.
“I wasn’t surprised (by the box-and-one). They did a pretty good job in holding him down,” Wingfield said. “We’re never happy enough when we don’t play good transition defense. Rebounding, absolutely, that’s an area we have to focus on. We’re not boxing out enough. We’re not jumping on the ball. Everybody’s got to be a rebounder.”
Eventually, the visiting Governors couldn’t keep up. They shot 2-for-8 from deep in the first quarter, and with forward Jen Kouch and center Christian Havea not available to play, they didn’t have enough firepower in the paint. Moanalua got a traditional three-point play from Robinson and a fastbreak layup by Nainoa Kauhola as the lead opened to 34-19 late in the first half.
Moanalua was short-handed, as well, with 6-foot-5 center DiAeris McRaven resting for a mainland volleyball tournament this weekend. Na Menehune came out on fire in the third quarter with a 16-5 run to put the game out of reach. Their 2-2-1 fullcourt press was effective in the third, forcing eight turnovers by the Govs. Farrington finished the game with 18 giveaways.
“Now they know. I hope we learn a lot,” Farrington coach Steven Leopoldo said.
The good news is they’ll have Havea, a 6-5 senior, and Kouch, back soon.
“It’s a big loss not having those two guys,” Leopoldo said.
Wong led Farrington with nine points. Isaiah Rios had six points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Farrington shot 4-for-22 from the 3-point arc.
The interim status for Col. Wingfield, who is in charge of the JROTC program on campus, has been quite a voyage. Athletic Director Joel Kawachi said there may be an announcement soon.
“I feel like the administration is going to make a good decision and whatever decision they make, that’s going to be best of the team. I’m just here to help the team out and do the best I can, and motivate the guys to come and play strong every day. The administration will make the right decision for the team and the future of the program,” Wingfield said. “What I’ve really enjoyed is the camaraderie of the guys. I like them to get out there and have fun. At the end of the day, it’s not like we’re out here trying to produce NBA players. What we’re trying to do is develop men of character. That’s my focus. Men that are disciplined. Men that are strong in their communities. Men that can have fun and be good sports.”
One possible applicant out of the many who sent in resumes has been at virtually every Moanalua game since Byron Mello resigned a month ago: Allan Silva, former Farrington and Saint Louis coach.
The Damien Classic
Earlier in the day, island teams opened play in The Damien Classic in California. Maryknoll was the lone victor with a 44-41 win over Eisenhower in the Silver division. Maryknoll will play on Friday, 3:30 p.m. West Coast time, against Campbell Hall or Hesperia.
In the other games: Damien (Calif.) 93, Damien (Hawaii) 91 (Platinum); Colony 64, Kamehameha 53 (Gold).
Damien will meet Rancho Christian on Friday. Kamehameha will battle Canyon.
Punahou Invitational
The first day of the 16-team Punahou Invitational is nearly done.
Thursday’s scores
San Marcos (Calif.) 97, Hanalani 43
Thunder Mountain (Alaska) 57, Kamehameha-Hawaii 44
Sacramento Adventist (Calif.) 62, ‘Iolani II 32
Saint Louis II 38, Le Jardin 22
Science Hill (Tenn.) 63, Hilo 57
Sequoia (Calif.) 62, Punahou II 36
La Jolla Country Day (Calif.) 63, Hawaii Baptist 41
Punahou 59, Hamamatsu Tech (Japan) 32
Friday’s games
Consolation
Punahou II vs. Hanalani
Kamehameha-Hawaii vs. Hamamatsu Tech
Hawaii Baptist vs. ‘Iolani II
Hilo vs. Le Jardin
Quarterfinals
La Jolla Country Day vs. Sacramento Adventist
Sequoia vs. San Marcos
Science Hill vs. Saint Louis II
Punahou vs. Thunder Mountain
Elsewhere, Mid-Pacific lost to Buena, 61-57, in Casa Grande, Ariz. MPI will play at Vista Grande on Friday.
Dang, that is a butt whoopin.
Whats up with Farrington b-ball?
I know they got talent.
Allan Silva coaches with Geremy Robinson Dad with the Swish Ball club now if they hire Silva it looks like they will hire Robinson puppet so if this happens the nay sayers is Correct that Robinson runs the show.
@ I love hawaii
Farrington lost too many players from last year plus their jv hasn’t been great the last 3
Is Robinson going to be eligible to play next season? Word is he won’t be eligibile to play due to age.
@Loca1boi yes robinson will be able to play next year there is a certain age you can turn after the cutoff and robinson makes the cutoff to play next year and be eligible.
Wow, thats unfortunate.
Wasnt Coach Silva a head coach somewhere recently, I mean after Farrington??
Silva left Farrington to go to STL. His contract wasn’t renewed and STL hired Batoon. Batoon’s contract wasn’t renewed so they hired Hale who is there now.
Silva is a good guy. But his affiliation with Geremy Robinson make this a silly hire if they do hire him. But then again, Moanalua’s AD does some stuff that makes people shake their head. So I can see them hiring Silva.
Mello resigned? I missed the story about that. I know he coached at Moanalua for many years, so it is sad to hear about him leaving the job.
Everyone who says silva would be a silly hire because of robinson dosent know basketball or these are coaches that applied for the job themselves trying to put the fire out,what better to have a coach in that will develop a program and do the right thing with the talent that comes to moanalua year in and year out. I hear silva is at every game that shows effort plus i know the players want silva also.it would be stupid not to hire the guy,Robinson obviosly knows the game and coaches very well seems like those who are not for this wants to see moanalua underachive as they do year in and year out. Silva will change the dynamics of not only moanalua but hawaii basketball period because its outdated coaches and refs…silva fits moanalua the Ad would be a fool not to hire him and having robinson around is a plus with his track record of achiving greatness in basketball. Anything else willl cause problem or be the same as having a byron mello or greg tacone around which equaled to nothing.
According to the writer of the article, if you show up to a game, you’re a candidate for the open coaching position. So much for verification of facts.
Moanalua hired a new coach. And it’s not Silva. They will have Co-Head Coaches this year. It will be the current interim HC, the ROTC gentleman. And former HPU Grad Assistant Micheal Johnson.
It will be announced soon.
@ Hawaii basketball supporter, who ever you are, you are obviously one of the families who support Robinson and his attempt to take over Moanalua basketball. You are one joke if you think that silva attending games “shows effort” lol. Like that makes him a good candidate. And then you blame Mello and even Coach Tacon??? Tacon gone 6 years ago. Lol, and you say if Moanalua AD does not hire silva, there will be the “same problems” how can you predict that? Because bruh, you, Robinson and the families you got trying to take over you are all the problem. You guys gonna cause the problems because your take over plan neva work. Lol! They when hire someone else already lol, hahaha, guess it’s time to start your new plan to make more problems. Get a life and stop blaming other people. You are a joke! You guys failed.
@Eligibilty Rules
I believe #23 is 19 years old as of Oct 2019. For OIA if you are 19 years old as of Sept 2019 you CANNOT play OIA. #23 was 18 as of Sept 2019. Sept 2020 he will be 19 yrs old he CANNOT play his Senior season. Moanalua needs to look at states (if they are able to make it this season) because I believe you CANNOT be a 19 year old playing HHSAA events. Maybe #23 should transfer to Kahuku…