NOTEBOOK

Girls preseason hoops under way

The girls basketball preseason began eight days ago and the boys preseason will begin Monday.

If it all seems extraordinarily early, that’s because the state’s leagues have pushed hard to stay in line with earlier start dates to the school year, as well as earlier graduation dates.

The OIA girls regular season is set to tip off on Dec. 5. The ILH girls regular season will begin on Dec. 19.

The ‘Iolani girls team, which lost in the state final to Konawaena last season, travels to the Valley Island to play in the Lahainaluna tournament Nov. 23-24.

Among the new coaches in the ranks is a familiar face: Chico Furtado, former longtime coach at Kalaheo. Furtado is now the girls head coach at Maryknoll.

Moanalua’s boys team has adjusted its pre-league schedule by initiating its inaugural Na Menehune Challenge, a crossover tournament featuring some top teams from the ILH and OIA. The three-day tourney will tip off on Dec. 13 with this slate: Farrington vs. Maryknoll, Kapolei vs. Punahou, Moanalua vs. ‘Iolani and Kahuku vs. Kamehameha.

Farrington features a new lineup following the graduation of prominent players like Mikey Kleman. Jacob McEnroe, who also plays defensive back on the football team, is one of the Govs’ top returnees. Maryknoll has one of the state’s top returnees in 6-foot-9 senior Tobias Schramm, as well as a bunch of promising newcomers.

Kapolei is loaded with a group of new, tall and athletic bigs. Punahou is a year older and better with a young team that captured the state title last year.

Host Moanalua has plenty of young talent to fill the gap left by a strong graduating senior class. ‘Iolani is in a similar state following the graduation of seniors Gabriel Vega and Duke Pauli.

Kahuku is coming off a runner-up performance at the state tourney, bolstered by the return of speedy guards Kawehena Johnson and Lasselle Thompson. Kamehameha is coming off a third-place finish in the ILH and a first-round bow-out at the state tourney, losing to King Kekaulike in a stunner. The Warriors will be without All-State sharpshooter Dyrbe Enos, now a walk-on guard at the University of Hawaii.

The ‘Iolani Classic boys tourney is on tap for Dec. 19-22.

OIA soccer starts in 2 weeks

Oahu Interscholastic Association girls soccer regular-season play begins Nov. 27 with five matches in the West Division.

East teams begin Nov. 28.

WEEKLY HONORS

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Dayton Furuta
Mililani football

The 6-foot, 215-pound junior co-captain sparked the Trojans’ defense and doubled up on offense with 23 carries for 118 yards and two touchdowns in a 24-13 comeback win over Baldwin in the opening round of the Division I state tournament.

HONOR ROLL

Football

» Keelan Ewaliko, Baldwin: rushed for 115 yards and a touchdown, and kicked two field goals and a PAT in the state Division I tournament loss to Mililani

» Kenan Gaspar, Konawaena: four receptions for 121 yards against Nanakuli

» Lennox Jones, Kealakehe: rushed for 137 yards and two touchdowns against Farrington in the state D-I first round

» Kahoali‘i Karratti, Konawaena: passed for 276 yards and accounted for three touchdowns against Nanakuli in the state D-II first round

» Domonic Morris, Konawaena: three receptions for 112 yards and a touchdown against Nanakuli

» Khade Paris, Nanakuli: rushed for 114 yards and a touchdown against Konawaena

» Abraham Silva, Farrington: rushed for 146 yards and two touchdowns in the Division I state tourney win over Kealakehe

» Tyler Taumua, Farrington: rushed for 171 yards and three touchdowns against Kealakehe

» Chazz Troutman, Nanakuli: rushed for 31 yards and two touchdowns, passed for two crucial 2-point conversions and led the secondary in a 25-23 come-from-behind win over Konawaena to put the Golden Hawks in the state D-II semifinals

» Dakota Turner, Mililani: stripped the ball loose and returned it 69 yards on a pivotal play that turned the Trojans’ fortunes and helped give them the lead in a win over Baldwin

FOOTBALL TOP 10

The Top 10 high school football teams as voted on by coaches and media from around the state. First-place votes in parentheses. Ten points for first-place votes, nine for second, eight for third, etc.

 >> Also receiving votes: Waianae 11, Kealakehe 10, Baldwin 9,
Nanakuli 4, Konawaena 1.
>> No longer in Top 10: Baldwin (No. 9), Konawaena (No. 10).