By KEVIN JAKAHI Tribune-Herald sports writer ADVERTISING When Jason Mandaquit was a player, Hilo’s trademark was its athleticism, the ability to run both ends of the floor whether on offense or defense. Now that he’s a coach, nothing has changed.
By KEVIN JAKAHI
Tribune-Herald sports writer
When Jason Mandaquit was a player, Hilo’s trademark was its athleticism, the ability to run both ends of the floor whether on offense or defense.
Now that he’s a coach, nothing has changed.
The Vikings ran past Keaau 98-81 in a Big Island Interscholastic Federation boys basketball game on Thursday night at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.
It was the second meeting between the Vikings (4-2) and Cougars (1-6) and most likely they’ll meet again in the first round of the BIIF Division I tournament. The East No. 4 will travel to play at the East No. 2. In the other first-round playoff, the East No. 3, currently Waiakea, will visit the West No. 2, currently Kealakehe.
Jalen Carvalho scored 21 points, hitting three 3-pointers, and Jodd Carter had 12 and Austin Dante 11. Both sank a pair of 3s for the Vikings, who were hot from the field, shooting 51 percent (33 of 65), including 9 of 27 from long distance.
The visiting Cougars were led by Cliff Eriksson’s 29 points, including 22 in a marvelous first half. Iikai Calip added 12 points and Nelson Enos had 11.
Eriksson’s production was offset by Keaau’s 26 turnovers, which the opportunistic Viks turned into 25 points. Hilo had 16 giveaways, eight in the fourth quarter, the only stat that bothered Mandaquit, who was the captain of Hilo’s 2000 state championship squad.
“I liked the tempo. It was up and down. That’s how we like it,” he said. “When we put the subs in the fourth quarter, the game was in hand, but we got sloppy. We have to clean that up, no matter who is on the court. The effort was good. All the guys who suited up played hard. That’s all you can ask.”
Hilo took a high volume of 3-pointers, nearly half of its total shots. The other times it was defenders stripping the ball and streaking down the court for layups. The only drama left was whether the home team would get 100 points.
“If we play our style, the tempo is in our favor. We want to score 80 points every game. Hopefully, we’ll get some stops and be on top at the end of the game. Our goal is to get better every game. If we do that, then I’m happy with the direction we’re heading.”
Hilo was the BIIF runner-up last year, reaching the Division I state tournament for the second year in a row. The Viks won the BIIF title in 2010, their first since Mandaquit’s magical 2000 season.
Then after he watched his Vikings run up and down the court against the Cougars, he compared his version and this season’s squad.
“I think we’re more athletic than 2000,” he said. “But we’re young. People don’t realize how young. We have five sophomores and start three (Carvalho, Carter and Drew Kell). We’ve lost some close games at the end. Our youth and inexperience was the difference. But I’m hoping all the close losses will benefit us in the end.”
In the junior-varsity game, it was Hilo 43, Keaau 37.
Keaau 20 17 17 17 — 81
Hilo 24 22 18 24 — 98
