 |
| Keleah Koloi |
The next generation of Lady Lunas opened up their Menehune season with a 41-13 win over Kahului.
Defending champs from last year, they lost a lot of 8th graders who went on to immediately play key roles at Lahainaluna's varsity and JV levels this year - the twins, Lindsey and Taylor Bates, Lau Hafoka, Aloha Salem and Mina Faaumu. Last year's coach Michael Bates also headed up to the high school level to help Coach Todd Rickard.
But don't despair. The cupboard is not bare. Coach Ian Aotaki comes from the high school level to take over as head coach for the Menehunes. Rightly so, as this time, his daughter is on the team! A very talented 6th grader. In addition, Lahaina obviously has two of the bigger/taller (and more talented) girls on the island at the junior high level in 8th grader Keleah Koloi and 7th grader Kalo Uhila. Both are close to 6-feet tall! And both run and hustle like crazy! They are joined in the front court by Lau Hafoka's younger sister. The backcourt is young - definitely not as experienced or steady as the Bates' sisters - and having a good back court will be key to how far they go at this level. But the new girls that are on the team - the names of whom I will probably come to learn as the season progresses - all seem willing, eager and able to do the hard work that is demanded of the girls' basketball teams in Lahaina. Defense and full-court pressure will be the strengths of this squad, as it is every year. And it helps to have the twin towers behind you to correct any mistakes up front.
No comments:
Post a Comment