The HHSAA Boys Volleyball DII Championship featured two small outer island schools. Pahoa and Seabury Hall, is this correct? Wait isn't there supposed to another OIA or ILH team in there? Finally the HHSAA got it right! Two small schools with enrollments of less than 3oo. The original designers of the HHSAA DII tournament would be proud. This was a match made for DII and the way it was intended. Pahoa a small Big Island public school and Seabury Hall a small private Maui school.
The two schools represented two good, solid volleyball programs, with great coaching and fan support. The television station OC 16, did an excellent job of telecasting the game live and volleyball fans statewide got to see a very competitive game. Let's give HHSAA a hand and give a hooray for the HHSAA DII formula. Finally, it had worked out the way it was designed!!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
Pahoa Aligned To The Top
Pahoa knew they had a good basketball team when the 2009-10 season started. A team that made the 2009 HHSAA tournament previously with a returning core of players. Led by Isaiah Ekau the BIIF DII league’s most versatile and dominant player. Ekau did it all this year. He rebounded, he scored, he altered shots and above all he led. Pahoa became a title contender with the addition of freshman Nick Fisher , a tall left handed scorer.
The Daggers started great and almost stole a win from Hilo at the Civic in their opener giving notice to everyone in the BIIF. They upset a very good DI Keaau Cougar team and played all the DI East teams extremly tough. Pahoa did not sport the best final season record, but just kept plugging along, vastly improving throughout the year. Then in the BIIF playoffs, Ekau made one great statement. Ekau made the final shot ending Kohala’s dream season and HHSAA berth. Ekau was definitely the story of the DII tournament.
Everyone wanted to see the Kohala vs St Joe rematch of 2009. But BIIF fans got Pahoa the unexpected dinner guest. In the BIIF final, St Joe was the clearly better team. St Joe frustrated a over anxious Pahoa team that got into foul trouble in a overly tight officiated game. But on Oahu in HHSAA the officiating style fit Pahoa’s physical style better. Pahoa flourished with defensive aggressiveness and teamwork. The small school of Pahoa now sits atop of the HHSAA DII Basketball World. For those who do not know what the Dagger's significance in the nick name of the school, (no it is not for the sport of chicken fighting) the Hawaiian word Pahoa means Dagger according to school officials. Although the Dagger might be thought of as a violent nick name, the dagger has always been a symbol in the ancient world as a most potent weapon for sustenance, fighting and protection. For Pahoa High School, who is constantly fighting for survival in a growing sprawling community they have met their challenge. Oh yes!
The Daggers started great and almost stole a win from Hilo at the Civic in their opener giving notice to everyone in the BIIF. They upset a very good DI Keaau Cougar team and played all the DI East teams extremly tough. Pahoa did not sport the best final season record, but just kept plugging along, vastly improving throughout the year. Then in the BIIF playoffs, Ekau made one great statement. Ekau made the final shot ending Kohala’s dream season and HHSAA berth. Ekau was definitely the story of the DII tournament.
Everyone wanted to see the Kohala vs St Joe rematch of 2009. But BIIF fans got Pahoa the unexpected dinner guest. In the BIIF final, St Joe was the clearly better team. St Joe frustrated a over anxious Pahoa team that got into foul trouble in a overly tight officiated game. But on Oahu in HHSAA the officiating style fit Pahoa’s physical style better. Pahoa flourished with defensive aggressiveness and teamwork. The small school of Pahoa now sits atop of the HHSAA DII Basketball World. For those who do not know what the Dagger's significance in the nick name of the school, (no it is not for the sport of chicken fighting) the Hawaiian word Pahoa means Dagger according to school officials. Although the Dagger might be thought of as a violent nick name, the dagger has always been a symbol in the ancient world as a most potent weapon for sustenance, fighting and protection. For Pahoa High School, who is constantly fighting for survival in a growing sprawling community they have met their challenge. Oh yes!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
A Good Week for the BIIF In HHSAA Tourneys
One Team Championship by Kealakehe in the HHSAA Girls Swimming Championships, a second place finish in the DII Boys Soccer Finals by Honokaa and a third place finish by Kealakehe Boys capped off a successful week for the BIIF. The Boys Soccer closed the gap between the islands in competitiveness. Kealekehe proved that they could play with the best and pressed Punahou in the semifinal and closed out Kamehameha-Kapalama in the third place game. Kealakehe led at the half 1-0 against eventual Boy’s HHSAA Soccer champions. Also the Hilo Boys played well and could have won the first game against a mighty Kamehameha-Kapalama team and later losing to a good Aiea team 0-1. The boys played more competitively than their BIIF female counter parts a week earlier. The BIIF Girls soccer teams of Hilo, Waiakea, Honokaa, HPA, and Kamehameha did not have the success of this years BIIF Boys Soccer teams. Give all the coaches, players and parents kudos for a job well done!
Also to be complimented is the Kealekehe Girls Swim team that brought home the HHSAA team swimming championship against a heavily favored Punahou.
Also to be complimented is the Kealekehe Girls Swim team that brought home the HHSAA team swimming championship against a heavily favored Punahou.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Leave The Paper Bags Home Please
Do you remember the NFL days of old when the New Orleans Saints were the laughing stock of the NFL? A franchise that has endured so much, losing seasons year after year. Even one of the best quarterbacks (Archie Manning) to come out of college could not save this beleaguered program. Tom Dempsey’s record breaking field goal with his special shoe was probably the greatest moment in Saints history, next to last weeks clinching of a berth to the big dance.
A franchise that only recently was playing games at LSU due to Hurricane Katrina. Katrina nearly destroyed the team, but the city rallied and like the spirit of the city, rebuilt. On Sunday the city of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana will be joined with those Americans who love an underdog. An underdog that has been beaten up, ridiculed, blown away (literally), and mocked with paper bag masks.
We loved it when John Gruden brought Tampa Bay a Super bowl appearance and Championship ring. We remember how they unseated the Saints with the bags and then were transformed into a winner with a new image. The Colts will be going for their second title in recent decade with a quarterback who is the son of a quarterback that lived through the paper bags and booing. Archie Manning’s son Peyton Manning remembers those days when his father was playing for a losing team and the frustration of not winning.
He remembers the city that supported and crucified the Saints. It is ironic that what eluded Archie for many years (Super Bowl Appearance) has been earned with his two sons; Peyton and Eli (NY Giants). Although Archie never got close to the summit in the NFL playoffs, the city of New Orleans time has arrived, win or lose the paper bags are vanquished once and for all.
A franchise that only recently was playing games at LSU due to Hurricane Katrina. Katrina nearly destroyed the team, but the city rallied and like the spirit of the city, rebuilt. On Sunday the city of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana will be joined with those Americans who love an underdog. An underdog that has been beaten up, ridiculed, blown away (literally), and mocked with paper bag masks.
We loved it when John Gruden brought Tampa Bay a Super bowl appearance and Championship ring. We remember how they unseated the Saints with the bags and then were transformed into a winner with a new image. The Colts will be going for their second title in recent decade with a quarterback who is the son of a quarterback that lived through the paper bags and booing. Archie Manning’s son Peyton Manning remembers those days when his father was playing for a losing team and the frustration of not winning.
He remembers the city that supported and crucified the Saints. It is ironic that what eluded Archie for many years (Super Bowl Appearance) has been earned with his two sons; Peyton and Eli (NY Giants). Although Archie never got close to the summit in the NFL playoffs, the city of New Orleans time has arrived, win or lose the paper bags are vanquished once and for all.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Time to tame preferential treatment and sticking to the schedule
Having flexibility in a schedule is good sometimes allowing room to navigate unforeseen things that happen in the hectic school schedules. These unforeseen events like SAT tests, field and weather conditions, travel difficulties etc…, throws a monkey wrench into the schedule. However, when you have the powers to be finagling the schedule to accommodate a few individual players is this preferential treatment?
Currently, when they switched the girl’s basketball and girl’s softball seasons it eliminated dual participation by girls that played basketball and soccer because the seasons ran concurrently. Most schools now have policies forbidding the participation in both sports due to risk of injury, practice conflicts and traveling challenges.
However, some BIIF schools have rearranged the set BIIF Girls Soccer schedule to accommodate several players who are trying to play both sports. In other words having their cake and eating it too.
However, some BIIF schools have rearranged the set BIIF Girls Soccer schedule to accommodate several players who are trying to play both sports. In other words having their cake and eating it too. Some have claimed that these talented players contribute to the chance of success to both the girl’s soccer and girl’s basketball teams. Two games schedules this week have been changed due to this situation. Is this fair for everyone involved? What is it teaching our Kid’s?
Is it wrong to change the schedule so these players can be at two venues on the same day? Schedules were made to be adhered to. Schedules teaches students time management, to work through, to make tough choices. Sports schedules also ensure that every team faces the same environments; time of day, practice hardships, traveling on the road, etc.. . In other words schedules are there to ensure uniformity for everyone and no one has an apparent advantage or disadvantage.
The late Ken Yamase quoted when they changed the basketball and softball seasons; “you have to choose.” (basketball or Soccer in girls BIIF)(Baseball or Volleyball in boys BIIF) In other words, you can't play both, you have to make a decision on what sport you want to play.
What are we teaching our kids when you can manipulate the schedule to accommodate yourselves? You can’t do this in real life in most instances. You have to make hard choices.
There is also the issue of practice. Is it fair for talented players to be excused in team practices because they are at another sport practice? Or worse, changing the original practice schedule to accommodate these players because they want to be at both practices to ensure major playing time? When they do this a whole team now must change their original practice schedule to accommodate these players. Not to mention the player's parents, who now have to change their schedules.
The BIIF, coaches and AD's must not tolerate the manipulation of the schedule (circumstances) and condone it. We must stop promoting winning is more important, discourage preferential treatment to change an uncomfortable circumstance in the schedule to an advantage.
Time for the BIIF to teach our students the value of sticking to the schedule, because it is fair and uniform for everyone, to work with what has been fairly dealt. Students will have to make hard decisions, and sometimes being absent and taking a forfeit will endeavor the heart to endure rather than a perpetual feeling that everything can be overcome by requesting for a preferential favor.
Currently, when they switched the girl’s basketball and girl’s softball seasons it eliminated dual participation by girls that played basketball and soccer because the seasons ran concurrently. Most schools now have policies forbidding the participation in both sports due to risk of injury, practice conflicts and traveling challenges.
However, some BIIF schools have rearranged the set BIIF Girls Soccer schedule to accommodate several players who are trying to play both sports. In other words having their cake and eating it too.
However, some BIIF schools have rearranged the set BIIF Girls Soccer schedule to accommodate several players who are trying to play both sports. In other words having their cake and eating it too. Some have claimed that these talented players contribute to the chance of success to both the girl’s soccer and girl’s basketball teams. Two games schedules this week have been changed due to this situation. Is this fair for everyone involved? What is it teaching our Kid’s?
Is it wrong to change the schedule so these players can be at two venues on the same day? Schedules were made to be adhered to. Schedules teaches students time management, to work through, to make tough choices. Sports schedules also ensure that every team faces the same environments; time of day, practice hardships, traveling on the road, etc.. . In other words schedules are there to ensure uniformity for everyone and no one has an apparent advantage or disadvantage.
The late Ken Yamase quoted when they changed the basketball and softball seasons; “you have to choose.” (basketball or Soccer in girls BIIF)(Baseball or Volleyball in boys BIIF) In other words, you can't play both, you have to make a decision on what sport you want to play.
What are we teaching our kids when you can manipulate the schedule to accommodate yourselves? You can’t do this in real life in most instances. You have to make hard choices.
There is also the issue of practice. Is it fair for talented players to be excused in team practices because they are at another sport practice? Or worse, changing the original practice schedule to accommodate these players because they want to be at both practices to ensure major playing time? When they do this a whole team now must change their original practice schedule to accommodate these players. Not to mention the player's parents, who now have to change their schedules.
The BIIF, coaches and AD's must not tolerate the manipulation of the schedule (circumstances) and condone it. We must stop promoting winning is more important, discourage preferential treatment to change an uncomfortable circumstance in the schedule to an advantage.
Time for the BIIF to teach our students the value of sticking to the schedule, because it is fair and uniform for everyone, to work with what has been fairly dealt. Students will have to make hard decisions, and sometimes being absent and taking a forfeit will endeavor the heart to endure rather than a perpetual feeling that everything can be overcome by requesting for a preferential favor.
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