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More holiday week roundball on tap
Even after a hectic week playing simultaneously in two boys basketball tournaments, St. Francis is ready for liftoff again.
The Saints host the St. Francis Merv Lopes Hoops Classic starting Wednesday at Manoa Valley Recreation Center. The field includes Thousand Oaks (Calif.) and Foothill, ranked No. 4 in Nevada.
Foothill features Brannon Cresanto, a 6-foot-2 guard originally from Hawaii who is averaging 18 points per game, according to St. Francis coach Sol Batoon.
The Saints coach knows because Cresanto is his grandson.
"They beat (powerhouse) Bishop Gorman last month," Batoon said.
The Saints (13-3 nonconference) are making do with their circumstances.
"We have no place to practice with the rain outside and our girls have the gyms," Batoon noted.
They loaded up with the Punahou Invitational and Walter Wong Invitational last week — and went 6-2.
They sent the second team, mostly sophomores and freshman, to play at the Wong tourney. Assistant coaches Brian Kaaa and Tony Randolph led that group.
"It was a success because the younger guys got more playing time," Batoon said.
The Lopes tourney also includes powerhouses Punahou, Kalaheo and Kamehameha. Wednesday’s tourney opener is Damien against Leilehua at 9 a.m.
Wildcats might not have a big dropoff
With the graduation of four-year standouts Lia Galdeira and Dawnyelle Awa, Konawaena seemed due for a dip on the radar.
After all, the last time the Wildcats endured such drastic personnel loss to graduation, Mana Hopkins was the key returnee. The ‘Cats lost in the state quarterfinals, Hopkins went on to star at HPU, and the Galdeira-Awa combo arrived the following season.
But there may not be any dip this time as the two-time defending state champs are off to a 6-1 start. Post Courtney Kaupu continues to thrive but, unlike Hopkins as a senior, Kaupu has more depth and talent around her. That includes freshman guard Chanelle Molina, who is regularly scoring in double digits for coach Bobbie Awa.
Molina scored 14 points in a preseason win over Punahou and had 20 in a victory over Kalani.
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Paul Honda, Star-Advertiser
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