Comments on: Punahou’s HR festival creates logjam in ILH https://www.hawaiiprepworld.com/featured/punahous-hr-festival-creates-logjam-in-ilh/ The source for Hawaii's high school sports Wed, 11 Apr 2018 05:34:02 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.1 By: ILH https://www.hawaiiprepworld.com/featured/punahous-hr-festival-creates-logjam-in-ilh/comment-page-1/#comment-114923 Wed, 11 Apr 2018 05:34:02 +0000 http://www.hawaiiprepworld.com/?p=98439#comment-114923 What a complete turnaround from last season!!
Punahou is competing this year. Great to see them winning.

]]> By: Coach Bobby Makahilahila https://www.hawaiiprepworld.com/featured/punahous-hr-festival-creates-logjam-in-ilh/comment-page-1/#comment-114888 Sat, 07 Apr 2018 00:41:20 +0000 http://www.hawaiiprepworld.com/?p=98439#comment-114888 First off, great article and insights on how teams are determined for States. What’s sad is the competition in the State Tournament should be based on the “the best of the best”, not a league formula by number of teams. The competition on Oahu is fierce and you historically have more of the top teams located here. However, neighbor islands teams occasionally have top notch talent (i.e., Kapolei pitcher transferred from Maui HS) as well, and should be provided the opportunity to compete against the best of the best “in the state, not on their islands.”

I totally agree with your idea of playoffs against the OIA 6th and ILH 3rd place teams versus the neighbor island 2nd place finishers. The top seeds on neighbor islands deserve automatic entry into the State Tournament by virtue of winning their league title, but second place teams should have a “home playoff” game against OIA and ILH teams to confirm their participation in States. Playing these games on their home island would bring a “taste of the state tournament” to their home field, and if they prevail are deserving of being in States based on competition on the field, not by number of teams participating in their leagues.

With regards to St. Francis in DII versus DI? If you ask any of the top teams out there all of would concur that they are a “wolf disguised in sheep’s clothing.” Their talent is top notch and they are one of the best teams in the state! Take a look at all of their key returnees and were they finished last year in DII states, they are legit and deserve respect despite being designated as a DII team.

The parity in the OIA and ILH this year is phenomenal when you look at who is beating who in both leagues. There are still a number of upsets (if that is what you want to call them) that will take place before the end of this season. This is the beauty of sports and the competition it provides to it’s participants (coaches/players). “On any given day, anyone can beat you” as witnessed by Mid-Pac versus Kamehameha so you need to be ready to compete. This is what makes this game so great for those who enjoy the spirit of competition and sportsmanship.

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