Waiakea boys basketball coach Paul Lee worked hard to recruit Oahu powerhouses to the Big Island for the Warriors’ preseason tournament, and he was kind of proud with what he came up with.
HHSAA Division I champion Kalaheo was set to come, as were three other Oahu teams that reached states last season. Those schools, however, all decided to stay home because of the outbreak of dengue fever.
“Probably the best field we’ve ever had,” Lee said. “I know all those guys. They wanted to come, but the administrations said no. First the private schools pulled out, then the public schools left.”
That leaves the Keaau-Waiakea Boys Basketball Tournament strictly as an 11-school Big Island affair. Also staying home is three-time defending BIIF Division I champion Konawaena, which is helping out at the school’s girls tournament this weekend.
In the end, all was not lost for Lee, who was able to negotiate a berth to next season’s Iolani Classic amid all the cancellations.
“I’ve been trying to get in that tournament forever,” he said. “That’s the one positive I can think of with dengue fever.”
Led by reigning BIIF Division I Player of the Year Calvin Mattos, the Warriors return eight players and start their preseason Wednesday night against Kohala at their gym.
“We’ve got decent size, but are we real quick,” Lee said. ‘We’ll be able to run and go uptempo, kind of like last year.”
The Warriors at times last season featured a five-guard lineup.
While Lee would have loved to try and match up with Kalaheo and Iolani at his gym, seeing how Mattos, a 5-foot-10 slashing guard, has matured entering his junior season is much more than a consolation prize for any fan.
After proving adept at finding his own shot last year and averaging 18.3 points per game, one of Mattos’ tasks this season is to draw defenders and create shots for others.
“We have to rely on him, but I’m kind of looking toward his future in college,” Lee said. “He’s learning how to distribute the ball more and see the floor.
“Of course we’re going to need points from him, but he’s also going to be the guy that get guys open. There are a few who can score. Calvin can cause mismatches and get guys wide-open.”
Lee feels Waiakea has a bevy capable shooters in upperclassmen Noah Ferreira, Louie Ondo, Shawn Kojima, Justin O’Neil and Kenneth Bugado, and he credits his assistants with “teaching them to shoot right.”
Waiakea should be improved in the post with the addition of a pair of big bodies to play inside along with Kahinu Alapai and Nigel Henry.
Prince Shields, a 6-1 junior transfer from the mainland, will help with rebounding and shot blocking, and Alex Mathews is healthy after working his way back from an ACL injury.
Mattos has added bull as well.
“He’s physically stronger and his body is filling in,” Lee said. “He can handle more contact, and he got bumped a lot last year.”
Mattos scored game-high 23 points in a loss to Konawaena in the BIIF semifinals, but Lee saw his high scorer wear down in the latter stages of the game. He doesn’t expect that to be the case this season.
“His endurance is better and he’s a lot more focused,” Lee said. “No more goofing around and he’s become a good leader.
“I told him people are going to come after him this season, and he’s got to take on the challenge.”
Blue bracket
At Waiakea
Wednesday
Hawaii Prep vs. Waiakea 2, 4:30 p.m.
Hilo vs. Laupahoehoe, 6 p.m.
Kohala vs. Waiakea, 8 p.m.
Thursday
Hawaii Prep/Waiakea 2 loser vs. Hilo/Laupahoehoe loser, 4:30 p.m.
Hawaii Prep/Waiakea 2 winner vs. Kohala, 6 p.m.
Hilo/Laupahoehoe loser vs. Waiakea, 7:30 p.n.
Friday
Consolation, 4:30 p.m.
Blue bracket third place, 6 p.m.
Blue bracket final, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
Red 6 vs. Blue 6, 11 a.m.
Red 5 vs. Blue 5, 12:30 a.m.
Red 4 vs. Blue 4, 2 p.m.
Red bracket
At Keaau
Ka’u vs. St. Joseph, 4:30 p.m.
Pahoa vs. Kamehameha-Hawaii, 6 p.m.
Kealakehe vs. Keaau, 8 p.m.
Thursday
Pahoa/Kamehameha-Hawaii loser vs. Ka’u-St. Joseph loser, 4:30 p.m.
Pahoa/Kamehameha-Hawaii winner vs. Kealakehe, 6 p.m.
Ka’u/St. Joseph winner vs. Keaau, 7:30 p.m.
Friday
Red bracket final, 7:30 p.m.
Red bracket third place, 6 p.m.
Consolation, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday
Red 3 vs. Blue 3, 4 p.m.
Red 2 vs. Blue 2, 5:30 p.m.
Red 1 vs. Blue 1, 7 p.m.
