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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Girls' basketball: OIA Red East

Advertiser Staff

OIA GIRL'S BASKETBALL

WHAT: Season opens today in three divisions

WHEN: JV games start at 5 p.m.; varsity to follow 15 minutes after conclusion of JV games.

RED EAST (DIV. I)

Kalaheo at Roosevelt

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FARRINGTON
Coach: Jenic Tumaneng
Key players: C‘ani Kealoha (5-6, sr., guard); Deja Bryce (5-6, sr., forward); Valerie Lesu (5-6, so., guard); Jorell Telefoni-Sablan (5-7, so., forward); Natalie Mata (5-5, so., guard).
Notes: The Governors have eight seniors ... Kealoha, a three-year varsity starter, is the floor general ... Bryce is a solid rebounder who can step out and knock down shots.
Style of play: “With a small team we’d like to play an uptempo game, but we need to establish a half-court game,” Tumaneng said.

KAHUKU
Coach: Peni Latu
Key players: Britney Fesolai (5-8, sr., guard); Lenora Nauahi (5-5, sr., guard); Kenra Moe (5-10, sr., forward); Keisha Moeai (5-9, sr., forward); Krystal Manguba-Glover (5-10, sr., center).
Notes: The Red Raiders have five senior starters and a balanced scoring attack … Fesolai is well-rounded and can post up other guards … Nauahi pushes the ball and needs to control the tempo … Moe is the most talented … Moeai is the team’s most consistent player … Manguba-Glover brings intensity and an inside-outside game.
Style of play: “We’re going to push it and always look to go inside before we settle into a half-court game,” Latu said. “It’s great to have the five seniors because of leadership.”

KAIMUKI
Coach: Mona Fa‘asoa
Key players: Olivia Phommachanh (5-4, so., guard); Ashley Fortson (5-8, so., forward); Sinead Scovil (5-7, jr., guard/forward); Mindy Hirokawa (5-3, sr., guard).
Notes: Phommachanh is a good scorer ... Scovil is a defensive stopper ... Fortson is solid near the basket ... Hirokawa is a three-year varsity player ... Maria Colon (5-2, fr., guard) is the team’s best ball handler.
Style of play: “We’re a small team this year,” Fa‘asoa said. “We have to play zone, but pressure the ball at the same time. If we go man, we’re outmatched. We have to play smart; do the little things like box out and follow your shot.”

KALAHEO
Coach: Ryan Hogue
Key players: Shanadee Canon (5-9, sr., guard/forward); Delicia Wilson (5-3, sr., guard); Aui Williams (5-7, jr., forward).
Notes: The Mustangs have five sophomores and three freshmen on their 13-player roster ... Canon, an OIA East first-team selection last season, and Wilson are returning starters ... Canon, a four-year varsity member, averaged 16 or 17 points per game last season. She is a solid shooter and smooth in the open court ... Wilson will push the ball on the fast break and play tough defense ... Williams rebounds well, and brings energy and athleticism.
Style of play: “We’ll pressure a little bit,” Hogue said. “We want to push our fast break. We want to play tough on ‘D.’ If we can play hard on ‘D’ we can play with anybody.”

KALANI
Coach: Darold Imanaka
Key players: Megan Kamehiro (5-5, sr., guard); Kortnee Gaddis (5-11, sr., guard/forward/center); Kacie Gushiken (5-1, sr., guard).
Notes: The Falcons won the Division II state title last season ... They have four players 5-foot-11 or taller, including 6-2 Allison Neussl (sr., center) ... Kamehiro was the OIA White Player of the Year last season ... She is an all-around talent who brings intensity ... Gaddis, a La Pietra transfer, is a versatile player who can handle the ball and shoot from 3-point range. She was named to the ILH Division II second-team last season ... Gushiken is the smartest point guard in the OIA, according to her coach.
Style of play: “We’ll play uptempo; we won’t change on offense,” Imanaka said. “Our big girls can run so that’s a big plus.”

MOANALUA
Coach: Rick Gonsalves
Key players: Jamie Ronolo (5-5, sr., guard/forward); Britni Ronolo (5-9, jr., forward/center).
Notes: The Ronolo sisters are three-year varsity starters ... both are aggressive, savvy and provide leadership ... Jamie is a shooter/slasher ... Britni, an OIA East second-team player last season, is solid in the post.
Style of play: “I expect to be competitive,” Gonsalves said. “I think we’re going to be small as usual. We’re going to lack some depth. We’re going to try and make up with some speed and execution.”

ROOSEVELT
Coach: Bobby Keanini
Key players: Iwalani Rodrigues (5-9, jr., guard); Diane Zane (5-4, jr., guard); Tiani Sugui (5-5, jr., guard).
Notes: The offense will run primarily through Rodrigues, an OIA East first-team member last season. She can score inside and out, is a solid rebounder and the team’s secondary ball-handler ... Zane is a solid ball-hander who will look to score more this season ... Sugui is a solid defender.
Style of play: “We’re very small; Iwalani is our tallest player,” Keanini said. “We want to play uptempo and push the ball. We want to spread the court and create off our guards.”