Sacred Hearts lets Matsui go

After nine seasons, Sacred Hearts has released Alan Matsui as girls basketball coach.

“We’ve always gotten the most out of the kids as possible,” said Matsui, one of two Interscholastic League of Honolulu coaches who have been let go this offseason.

Sacred Hearts (1-11 ILH) posted its lone win against Mid-Pacific, which was ranked No. 10 in the state at that time. MPI released coach Wes Masuda recently.

“The school decided to go in another direction in coaching. The young team that they have will be fine with the right leadership,” Matsui said. “I’ll miss the players and wish them all the luck and blessings.”

Competing in Division I against Top 10 powerhouses like ‘Iolani, Punahou and Kamehameha made life tough for the Lancers. In the years since Matsui took over, University and Maryknoll dropped down to D-II.

“That was our peer group and it was very competitive,” Matsui said.

There is potential, though. They will return several starters next season and have a promising group of eighth-graders in the system.

Matsui, 54, has plenty left in the tank and still loves the sport.

Isle teams going East to go West

Perennial state boys volleyball power Punahou and contender ‘Iolani are in flight soon.

The Buffanblu and Raiders will play in the Best of the West Tournament in Poway, Calif., on Friday and Saturday. The two powerhouses have already met in league play; Punahou won at ‘Iolani on Saturday, 25-20, 25-22.

Title thinking

Punahou wrestling coach Matt Oney realized at midseason that he and his staff could only do so much.

The Buffanblu found their identity and stormed to another boys state championship on Saturday, their sixth in a row. Many of the wrestlers had little sense of the dynasty and the history, though.

“That aspect is lost on them because they were so young,” Oney said of the start of the winning streak. “This team presented different challenges. The key was their decision to make who they’re with a priority and re-evaluate what was important to them.”

One aspect that hasn’t changed is the Puma wrestling program that ushers in newbies in seventh grade.