Comments on: Big Dance Marathon: Day 2 is here

By: jc

jc — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 04:22:55 +0000

Well first….as to the Lunas Hafoka & Fernandez, they are current players and I was asking past teams that had two D1 players….so can you name another team in the past? Of course, if you want to include current players on a team, I’m pretty sure all 3 Molina sisters will be playing D1 for somebody in the future. But the senior Molina was a freshman when Awa & Galderia were Seniors. Secondly, well I wasn’t sitting with HS girls coaches, but I was sitting with HS Boys coaches at Iolani Classic and I can honestly say Coach Awa is running multiple offensive sets and she’s calling the play in the huddle last night, I can read her lips “BOX” and they came out and ran it not once but twice. So I dunno how you can say I’m making things up. Several coaches run the Spread 4 w/ a high post and the 3 out inside X is a older set that has variations but I’ve seen some old school coaches still run it. As to a student/athletes struggle in college….there could be a multitude of reasons but much like a kids transition from JV ball to Varsity…..the jump from Varsity to College is just as great. Your dealing with bigger-faster-stronger players and if you think about it, a student-athlete in college is almost like taking on two full-time jobs during the season. But to blame Coach Awa for not preparing Galdeira for academics at WSU…I mean she’s a HS Coach of a public school team where she’s being paid peanuts….you can have study hall & be pro-active with grade checks but when I saw her up close and personal her Senior year, the girl could nearly 2 hand dunk the ball and she was just fooling around before the Kona boys game. But on the other hand…..I haven’t heard any academic problems with Danielle.

By: The Rim

The Rim — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 02:26:04 +0000

Having an opinion is one thing but attacking high school girls and a former college standout is just unacceptable. You’re an idiot to even say these kids can’t play ball when they’re dominating and dumb to say all the coaches know what Kona will run but can’t do anything about it. Okay A Fan, “Just say no to drugs” but maybe prozac might help.

By: A Fan

A Fan — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 23:36:38 +0000

So one time a game they run Iolani’s Wheel Play. Wow on one time. Go and ask any high school girls coach. They all know Kona runs no sets. It’s freelance and you know what, it works to win Hawaii High School Girls games! I guess if that’s the cap then keep doing it the way they are. But what about going to college? What about being eligible? What about striving for excellence and continuing to play.

They ran none of these stuff, You are making it up. It is all reads. It’s not a planned play. OMG.

Lahainaluna has 2 seniors that will be going to play D1, Hafoka & Fernandez. And that is done without even thinking hard.

Please explain to me why they both struggled learning plays their freshman year. If the coaching is so great, the transition will be seamless. I am not talking talent. I am talking ability to understand basic basketball plays.

As for Galdeira, she flunked out and had to go pro. Why don’t you mention that.She didn’t even attend classes for a while. That’s a winning attitude?

By: The Rim

The Rim — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 23:23:50 +0000

A Fan- I’m going to let you live in your own world of hatred and jeolosy, while I enjoy good basketball. Like I tell all the parents who complain about coaching, go coach and see how well you do. With your attitude you wouldnt last a season, AND how much kids would you put in D1 programs? Its very interesting how really good girls basketball players end up in Kona…..wow A Fan, maybe you should go and find out. Hint…go watch the age group leagues and tournaments to find the answer to Kona’s future Girls State Champions.

By: jc

jc — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 18:46:27 +0000

In watching the replay last night….Coach Awa called a timeout at 29-20 when Punahou made a mini-run….if you can read her lips, you can see her saying to Cherilyn “we’re running BOX”. They come out of the time out running the Box Set and they hit Victor on a slip screen on the first play and then they run the box set a second time with an elevator screen for Chennel and they hit the 3. I’m not sure what A-Fan (B-Ball fan) is watching but I saw at least 3 different offensive sets that Kona ran. They came out with the spread 4, they ran what’s referred to as a H-set, and they also ran an inside X set. Before half they ran a very innovative X out of the spread 4..using Victor as a cut screen and then a on ball screen with an additional baseline backdoor cut. But Kona’s transitions are so good on their primary and secondary breaks, that they get easy transition points off turnovers and defensive rebounds. Hawaii’s not known for producing basketball players on boys and girls programs….so when you have 2 (Galderia and Awa) going to a D1 program in the same year it says a lot and many athletes struggle their first year in college….your taking a full course load of credits plus practice & games and being away from home. Name me what other hawaii basketball program has 2 players from 1 team that went to a D1 program….let alone more than 2 players over the course of 10 years from one school that has gone on to play D1 basketball?

By: Sports fan

Sports fan — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 18:21:44 +0000

A Fan, I haven’t heard of any. We all know that extra practices take place. The ad’s of each school must know extra practices exist. I assume as long as nobody verbally complains then nothing changes. Should we begin a discussion on club team favoritism or club team dominance such as Kona?

By: Rams33

Rams33 — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 18:20:07 +0000

“And whoever worked with them to develop their skills should be applauded.”

Who do you think that is? Oh that’s right it’s coach Awa who also coached most of these girls in club ball when they were younger from what I’ve read. Basketball is not about who can run the fanciest plays but about who can play the best as a team both offensively and defensively and Kona has been doing just that.

I won’t even bother addressing the rest of the nonsense in your post.

By: A Fan

A Fan — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 18:09:45 +0000

To Sports Fan, I am hearing that certain coaches who coach high school also disregard the blackout period and work with their players in club which is deemed illegal. But there are no checks and balances to make sure it stops. Have you heard anything?

By: A Fan

A Fan — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 18:08:50 +0000

With all the talent they have you would think that way more of their players would go to D1. Please correct me if I am wrong, but I only recall Awa and Galdeira go to D1. Did anyone else? I know the oldest Molina signed with WSU, but did she qualify yet? And we all know the story with Galdeira and her studies that forced her to turn pro after her junior year. If the coaching was so good they would have more D1 players. If their team can compete with high level mainland teams that means they have really good talent. The facts that hardly any of them go to D1 is a travesty. I guess the goal is to win a high school championship and not get them to college.

By: A Fan

A Fan — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 18:04:57 +0000

Ram33, well coached? Please tell me 1 set they run? The purpose of high school sports is to develop character and get the kids to improve to further their education. If the coach is so goo how come they don’t run any plays? Having kids spread and just play isn’t a basketball set.

I am not saying they are not talented, we all know they have tons of talent. And whoever worked with them to develop their skills should be applauded. But to think their coaching during games is great is asinine.

We all know that coaching at the girls level isn’t as important as boys. At the girl level, the teams with the alpha dogs are typically going to win.

I still remember on OC-16 when the Kona tried to run a 50 foot backdoor play with 4-5 seconds left when they got upset by Lahainaluna. Who tries to run a 45-50 foot backdoor play as your last play?

And they are so talented that you, Mr. Rim would be sitting on 6-7 state titles of your own.

If they are such great coaches, please tell me how come they don’t run any offensive sets?