Tribune-Herald
Tribune-Herald
Waiakea, with a strong returning nucleus, may be the D-I team to beat this season on the Big Island.
The Warriors, under coach Paul Lee, are talented and led by seniors Dillon Rellez, Lucas St. George, Maikai Gahan and Bryson Ita.
The 5-foot-10 Rellez is one of the league’s top players, a lefthander who can score from 3-point range, on mid-range jumpers, or take it all the way to the basket. He’s also a strong defender and rebounder.
George, a 6-3 forward, is a solid rebounder and defender and gives Waiakea additional scoring punch.
Gahan, a 5-10 shooting guard, and Ita, a 5-7 point guard, should also play productive roles this season.
The Warriors are expected to battle top contenders Konawaena, Kamehameha and Hilo for the league’s D-I title.
Here are capsules of some of the top BIIF teams in this week’s Waiakea/Keaau tourney:
• KONAWAENA: The defending D-I champion Wildcats, under coach Donny Awa, is led by seniors Brandon Awa and Jonah Bredeson.
Awa, a 5-11 point guard, is the league’s best BIIF passer who excels at running the Konawaena offensive sets or leading the break, finding the open shooters or scoring on drives or floaters over the defense.
Bredeson, a 6-0 forward, is a versatile player, a quick defenders and a dangerous scorer. If he plays well in all phases of the game, he’ll be a key to how far the Wildcats can rise.
Other key contributers for the Wildcats include: seniors Chase Takaki (5-8 guard) and Pookela Hanato-Smith (5-8 guard).
• KAMEHAMEHA: The BIIF D-I runner-up Warriors, under coach Dominic Pacheco, could be in the title again with seniors Laakea Manliguis (6-1 guard), Micah Carter (6-0 forward) and Nolan Kua (6-3 forward) as well as quick 5-8 sophomore Bayley-Allen Manliguis leading the charge.
The Warriors like to apply pressure defense, push the ball in transition, and have some good 3-point shooters.
• HILO: The D-I Vikings, under new coach Chuck Vallero, are led by seniors Jalen Carvalho and Austin Dante.
Carvalho, a 6-3 shooting guard, is the BIIF’s top player and one of the best in the state. The southpaw is a dangerous 3-point shooter and has explosive quickness to get to the rim. He’s also very good rebounder and defender on a young Vikings squad.
Dante, a 5-11 point guard, will run the Hilo offense and occasionally move to shooting guard. He’s strong off the dribble and can score from the perimeter or on drives. Along with the athletic Carvalho, Dante will be a key in the Vikings’ press and halfcourt defenses.
Vallero was a highly successful coach for 20 seasons at Hilltop High in San Diego, before retiring last year and moving to the Big Island.
• HAWAII PREP: The defending BIIF D-II champion Ka Makani, under coach Fred Wawmer, are expected to contend again with a strong team effort. They are led by senior guards Kalan Camero (6-0) and Buck Thomas (6-0), who’ll provide leadership, ballhandling and scoring.
Also returning for disciplined Hawaii Prep are promising 6-7 Evaldas Vegertas, who was sidelined with an injury most of last year, 6-4 junior Nicolas Palleschi and defensive specialist Kenji Stinson (6-0, senior).
Ka Makani are expected to be challenged by Kohala this season for the D-II crown, with Pahoa and Honokaa hoping to pull off upsets and advance to the state D-II tournament.