No, the OIA girls basketball season doesn’t begin tonight. That happened on Saturday when Moanalua edged Kailua 60-55. The schedule has changed a few times recently, and the league had to bump that game up to an earlier date. It’s an interesting time for basketball in the OIA. It’s been three (or so) years since the girls season moved from spring to winter, which means meshing the boys and girls schedules has required a surgeon’s touch.
That’s a job for the administrators. Maybe drudgery. The rest of us get to enjoy the games. Huge menu tonight, 11 games in the OIA, including Kapolei at Radford. It’s the first game back on Oahu for Kapolei since former coach Jesse Baugh passed away. Coach Baugh was, in some ways, one of the biggest sports fans at Kapolei, more than just a coach. He’d been there from the start of the school and, as one coach told me, it’s going to be strange not seeing him at Kapolei sporting events.
He had a big heart. Pure and simple. I saved his voicemail message, which pretty much says it all about Coach Baugh. Funny guy, big heart.
The boys side has tournaments at Kailua and Radford (James Alegre) this weekend. Defending is at the Alegre. ‘Iolani is at Kailua’s tourney, which features new Surfriders coach Walter Marciel.
Paul Honda, Star-Advertiser
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