Comments on: Dedicated to ‘Kella: Kona three-peats

By: 100% KONA

100% KONA — Wed, 01 Mar 2017 22:59:59 +0000

Stringrays plus Wildcats equal championships!
Konawaena and girls B-ball on Moku Nui is just so competitive. There are so many factors (coaching, players, & school community) that make Konawaena one of the greatest programs. Unlike Honolulu where many of the youth play club ball year round, Moku nui youth play multiple sports with the seasons in addition to enjoying the great outdoors (hunting, fishing, raising live stock, etc). Credit given to programs that work with the limited resources and players on hand. This includes Mid Pacific Owls, Seabury, and St. Francis. Granted that they are D-2, but these programs don’t recruit, unlike other schools. Students admissions are based on academics, parent choice, and other factors. Once the coaches at Mid Pacific Owls changed their game to an up tempo and running game with 4-5 out set…..no D-2 team could match up. If MPI Owls played this type of Run and Gun game during the 2016 season they may have been D-2 champs repeat this year too. During states 2016 they convincingly defeated Kaimuki in the quarter finals and would have won at least 1 if not 2 of the teams that they lost to this year in the pre-season. MPI Owls need to return to D-1, parents now have more choices in the ILH, but remember they don’t recruit, so tell your child to study if they want to attend an excellent in school Honolulu.
GO WILDCATS! 100% KONA

By: The Rim

The Rim — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 23:56:40 +0000

Okay now move up to DI and try it there. I believe the other article said they played DIII competition.

By: Education First

Education First — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 19:16:21 +0000

The Rim February 7, 2017 at 5:44 am
To say they had the most dominant run in Girls Basketball History? Come on guys, lets be real. They lost to Farrington, Kam Kapalama, and Maryknoll. They play DII competition…I don’t see your logic.

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@ The Rim, I think Poi Pounder is saying relatively speaking. Poi Pounder writes, “How come no write up about the Mid Pac girls championship? They probably had one of the most dominant runs in Girls State Basketball tournament history.”

He is referring to the State Tourney History. And if you look at it from that perspective, Poi Pounder is accurate. Since 2006 Punahou (when they smashed Roosevelt and Kuehu had like 27 at the half), no other team in the State Tourney (D1 or D2) has had the same kind of run like this MPI team just did. Most finals are really close in the D1 over the past 10 years.

MPI just steamrolled everyone. So relatively speaking, I do agree that MPI’s run through the D2 Tournament was one of the most impressive championship runs in the history of the HHSAA.

I don’t think Poi Pounder is saying MPI is better than D1 teams, he’s just saying that their run in the state tourney was impressive. I agree.

By: The Rim

The Rim — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 15:44:26 +0000

To say they had the most dominant run in Girls Basketball History? Come on guys, lets be real. They lost to Farrington, Kam Kapalama, and Maryknoll. They play DII competition…I don’t see your logic.

By: The Watcher

The Watcher — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 07:56:57 +0000

That’s true @Poi Pounder. MPI had an amazing run and played great. From what I have seen this year, I think they are a top 6-10 team in the state. Brilie is amazing.

By: The Rim

The Rim — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 04:14:21 +0000

@ Poi Pounder – what in the world are you talking about?

By: Poi Pounder

Poi Pounder — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 01:17:44 +0000

How come no write up about the Mid Pac girls championship?
They probably had one of the most dominant runs in Girls State Basketball tournament history.

By: Education First

Education First — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 20:10:27 +0000

I believe having the ability to play year round with the same kids in addition to starting early is a HUGE advantage. In the ILH, a coach is only allowed to coach a team with 3 kids from their school on it. Please correct me if I am wrong, but I believe they can play all year round and coaches are allowed to coach all year round with the kids. If this is a rule, it isn’t monitored very tight.

In the ILH, just last year a coach got suspended for 2 games. He coached a team with more than 3 kids since he didn’t know the rule. After he found out, he reported it and the ILH quickly made him sit out the two regular season games.

It also happened in baseball before. In the club scene on Oahu, teams that are together for only 1 year noticeably improve when they play together.

Can you imagine 6-10 year together? That is the result we are seeing from Kona. Maybe more communities need to use this model. But then again, girls basketball doesn’t seem to popular compared to soccer and volleyball on Oahu.

By: Rams33

Rams33 — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 19:08:36 +0000

That’s a good point you made about the deer-in-the-headlights factor. I didn’t see the game in person, but from the TV feed I was thinking more along the lines that Maryknoll seemed to lack energy early, even in their body language before tip-off. But I can certainly believe it being nerves on the big stage.

But back to the talent issue, in terms of measurables Kona definitely isn’t superior. But we all see that they have a ton of great players flowing through that program. So it comes down to the question of whether that’s due to nature or nurture. I tend to think it’s so much more about their training and feeder programs than it is about getting naturally gifted players.

By: Education First

Education First — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 18:10:07 +0000

There are 3 teams above the rest in Hawaii Girls Basketball now, Kona, Maryknoll, and Lahaina. It is clear. The two neighbor island teams build from the youth age up with their feeder programs. Maryknoll gets talented kids in at 7th or 9th grade.