Comments on: Crusaders shock Maryknoll in ILH tournament

By: Just Play

Just Play — Sun, 12 Feb 2017 05:43:23 +0000

@TheWatcher totally agree. With all the studs at Punahou you would think they would dominate. But that being said, they did just win the ILH. However, this was ‘Iolani’s 7th game since February 1st, and only Pun’s 4th game. Wonder if the results would’ve been different if ‘Iolani had fresh legs. My guess is yes.

By: The Watcher

The Watcher — Sun, 12 Feb 2017 02:32:38 +0000

@ Just Play, I like Iolani and Coach Dean. Coach Dean is consistent. Darren in an underachiever. They have more talent year in and year out and do less than Iolani does. Even if Punahou wins tonight, they won’ win states and will onyl go further in states if Iolani faces Kahuku earlier. Matsuda isn’t a coach who elevates talent. He is a guy who has tons of talent and doesn’t know what to do with it.

By: Just Play

Just Play — Sat, 11 Feb 2017 08:11:03 +0000

@The Watcher points well taken. You’re right. Just because he’s from ‘Iolani doesn’t make him a good coach. And yes. ‘Iolani is no doubt legit. Thoughts on the ILH Championship game tomorrow night? Who’s taking it? Also curious how ‘Iolani and Punahou would do against Kahuku.

By: The Watcher

The Watcher — Sat, 11 Feb 2017 07:13:27 +0000

I don’t have a personal problem with MPI. But to defend Maryknoll, they don’t win only 2 games and were in the state championship game a few years ago. As for beating Punahou, Halley’s Comet comes every so often too, haha.

Your Maryknoll list is pretty impressive:
Gilmore – got to the title game
Burnett – got to the title gme
Schramm – big for nothing, why is he listed
Sueing – was a 10th grader
Winquist – was a 9th grader and left
Harris – ended up at Kahuku
Washington – left

Maryknoll had some nice teams, but it’s not like they had A level talent and everyone else had B level. The Kalaheo team that beat them was legit. Iolani is legit.

By: The Watcher

The Watcher — Sat, 11 Feb 2017 07:08:22 +0000

@ Justplay you say, “Remember, he is a product of ‘Iolani, so he knows what he’s doing.” So are you saying everyone from Iolani knows what they are doing? How do you know this? I am going to assume there are people from all schools where some can do it and some cannot. I am just a little curious why coming from Iolani means he can do it. So if he was from Punahou or HBA does that mean he cannot do it?

Please elaborate.

By: Just Play

Just Play — Fri, 10 Feb 2017 23:38:04 +0000

The Midpac coach is doing the best he can with the players that he has. Curious what the other ILH coaches could do with the team that they have at Midpac. Easy to be successful when your team is stacked. Coach Hirata is doing fine. Remember, he is a product of ‘Iolani, so he knows what he’s doing. Also, every single ILH school has kids who hot dog. EVERY SINGLE one. Some more than others, yes. I think ILH hoops fans can name at least one kid from each school who showboats. But I don’t believe in dissing high school players, so I won’t point any of them out. Likewise, every single team has a player/players who just play their game, no showboating necessary. Punahou’s Kobayashi is one of those guys. ‘Iolani’s Hogland is another. I do agree that ‘Iolani has a top-notch program. No doubt. And Shimamoto is an awesome coach too. Midpac is not a bad team at all, they just play in a tough, tough league. I bet if you threw the two bottom ILH teams (Midpac and Stl) into the OIA they would win WAY more than just 2-3 games apiece. I’m a product of public schools, so no disrespect to public schools, but it’s the truth. And let’s not get into the recruiting that the ILH schools can do. ‘Cus come on now, a lot of OIA schools “recruit” too.

By: UH Hoops

UH Hoops — Fri, 10 Feb 2017 23:07:48 +0000

@Education First, I agree with you. I think Iolani is a great program. I think Shimamoto is a great coach. Tacon and Matsuda are great as well. However, you do not talk about how Maryknoll’s first place spot in the ILH slipped this season, or how they haven’t been able to win a title in the last 5 years despite having Gilmore, Burnett, Schramm, Sueing, Winquist, Harris, Washington, and so on. You do not talk about St Louis winning only 2 games all year with the kind of talent they have nor do you mention them blowing their state seed last season despite having 3-4 opportunities to close. Yet, you are so persistent on talking about MPI. You also don’t mention former MPI coach, Holiday, and how his team lost every game by blowout. You do not mention how MPI had 1 ILH win in five years prior to current coach. Last year MPI beat (at the time) #1 Punahou and #2 Kaiser. I don’t know the coaches, but to me it looks like they do more with less. Should St Louis drop to D2 with 2 wins? I don’t think so, but given your theories it seems as if you may disagree. I’m not an alum, fan or coach I just agree with “just play”, it sounds like you have a personal problem with the MPI coach.

By: Education First

Education First — Fri, 10 Feb 2017 20:18:29 +0000

@ Just Play, I don’t know anyone personally on the team, coaching staff, or who got cut. I am forming my opinion based solely on what I see and have heard from coaches/fans/parents I trust.

I have to chip in the game. I enjoy Iolani and how they conduct themselves. They are the top program over the last 15 years. Yet I don’t see shirts with “Our Moment” or their kids pointing their fingers at benches. I am not saying they are perfect, but are a class act in my opinion.

Maybe the taunting and celebrating is to convince themselves (Mid Pac) that they are really good. If that is the case, I can kind of understand.

But winning 2 league games isn’t that good.

By: Education First

Education First — Fri, 10 Feb 2017 17:35:25 +0000

@Just Play, I just don’t care for the way they play. Now granted, they play hard. But many in the basketball community don’t care for some of their “unsavory” behavior. In my opinion they hot dog. I saw a few games where they point at kids on the opposing bench after hitting a 3. I saw a kid hit a 3, then stop in front of the opponents bench and pose and hold 3 fingers up at the other team’s bench. This is just what I witnessed. Others I know (and no one needs to believe me or my friends) have told me they hit a 3 and all 5 of the kids on the are jumping around holding 3 fingers up.

That is totally cool if you want to be excited or what some feel is showboating. But when you are consistently coming in last and all you can muster up is 2 league wins, you probably want to tone it down. That’s like someone say, “hey look at my car, hey look at my car, and you pull up in a rusty old Datsun.

Yes Hirata gets them to play hard. But I don’t care for the showboating from a team with 2 league wins. But this is just my opinion. And if your moment consists of only 2 wins, maybe you need to focus on a new moment.

Like I said earlier, I think the D2 model is a better one for them for now….

By: Just Play

Just Play — Fri, 10 Feb 2017 00:16:17 +0000

Totally get it. But it seems like you have a personal problem with Midpac. What’s this whole owl rising and “Their Moment” stuff about? Was that their theme or something? For you to mention those things must mean you’re close to the program. So either you got cut? Or someone you knew got cut? No idea what St. Louis’ schedule was last year. But let’s say it was the same as this year. Does that mean they should move down too? No. The beauty of sports and ILH basketball (of recent years) – everyone can beat everyone at any given time. Look at what STL did last night to Maryknoll. The last place team of the regular season knocked off a team that was tied for 1st.