KEAAU – Even when Dominic Pacheco was running Kamehameha’s boys basketball program with experienced rosters, he often liked to take a long-term developmental view.
It’s a process, he would like to say.
That philosophy will come in handy in his new coaching gig.
A new era of Warriors girls basketball begins with two familiar faces. Junior guard Dominique Pacheco, and her father, who returns to the bench after three seasons away.
“It’s interesting, it’s a challenge,” Dominic Pacheco said. “I knew exactly what I was getting into.”
He also knows how to measure expectations.
Senior-driven and depth-deprived, Kamehameha finally got over the Division II state championship hump last season, though during a three-year march to the top, they never did beat a Division I contender in BIIF play.
This season, with an inexperienced roster, the Warriors won’t even worry about measuring themselves up against Waiakea, Hilo and Konawaena. They’ll concentrate solely on Kohala, Hawaii Prep, Pahoa, Ka’u and Honokaa and defending their three-year BIIF reign atop Division II.
“I know the Division II competition,” said Pacheco, who has been a BIIF referee of late. “Our focus is D-II. We’ll try to get experience against D-I teams, and if we keep to close, we keep it close.
“We just have to make sure (the girls) understand. Don’t be upset if we lose by 30, 40, or 50.”
If he was going to inherit a roster with only one prime contributor, he’d probably pick his daughter anyway. Beyond the obvious father-daughter excitement he’s feeling, Dominique Pacheco is also a guard who can handle the ball and help the revamped Warriors find their way as a natural leader.
“She had a great summer, she won (offseason) tournaments and played really well,” Pacheco said. “This is different role for her. Now we have to ask her to score.”
Dominique Pacheco stepped up as a facilitor last season on a team that had players with defined roles. Three-time BIIF D-II player of the year Saydee Aganus could slash to the basket and help with ball-handling, Jordyn Mantz was a spot-up shooter, while Makenzie Kalawaia and Taylor Sullivan were post options.
This season, Pacheco might have to do all of the above as she bridges the gap until the next group of experienced players arrives from the middle school level.
Of the seven players who participated in the 2018 state final triumph against Saint Francis, only Pacheco (six points, eight rebounds) and Pomai Evans-Bautista (one minute played) return.
“Nique, she is aggresive, she has to stay that way,” Pacheco said. “(She) is going to have to be more on the receiving end now.”
Ashley Midel will be used as much as possible at point guard to help free up Pachecho to attack the basket more, Evans-Bautista can be a solid rebounder and finsher, her coach said, and Meghan Wong is developing a mid-range jumper. Pacheco also has liked the hustle shown by Juliana Pakele.
The Warriors haven’t played any preseason games by design heading into their BIIF opener Tuesday night at home against the Daggers, and Pacheco wants to play uptempo and go nine to 10 players deep.
“If you’re tired, you come out,” Pacheco said. “Someone else has to go in.
“The system has been successful here and the girls are excited about it.”
Pacheco helped the boys program start from scratch earlier on the 2000s, and he remembers the program taking a few 40- and 50-point drubbings. A few years later, the Warriors finished state runner-up under Nelson Wong, and a Pacheco-coached Kamehameha team reached the final four in 2012.
With his daughter in tow for two years, he’s excited about where this opportunity will take him.
“It’s been very refreshing,” he said.