Video: Thunder vs. Knights

Thunder vs. Knights, PAA Varsity Tournament, Wednesday, Apr. 27, 2013, Kaneohe District Park Gym. I've been so lethargic lately because of this flu, but now that it's almost gone, I'm catching up on all these game videos.

Seeing this game was a trip. The video tells the story that our coaches and players tried to explain to me. We had some extreme lulls and peaks, and thankfully our 18U stepped up in the clutch with so many great defensive and offensive plays to rally from a double-digit deficit.

Proud of our Thunder!

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

Video: Thunder 12U vs. Aiea Blazers

H1 Thunder vs. Aiea Blazers, Aiea 12U League, April 27, 2013, Aiea District Park Gym. This battle went into overtime and our six players played tough all the way. Proud of our Thunder!
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

Video: Thunder 15U vs. Lanakila

H1 Thunder vs. Lanakila, NJB All-Net 15U League, Sunday, Apr. 28, 2013, Palama Settlement Gym.

Part 1 Part 2

This week's schedule (updated)

Still waiting to hear back from NJB for confirmation of this week's game days and times. Here's what I have so far. Please be at all games one hour in advance.

Wednesday, May 1
8:00 pm Thunder 17U vs. Hoops4Christ, Aiea gym (Aiea League)

Friday, May 3

5:30 pm Thunder 13U vs. Crush, Koko Head gym (NJB All-Net League)

6:00/7:00 pm Thunder 17U - semifinal, Aiea gym (if we win on Wednesday) (Aiea League)
7:00 pm Thunder 15U vs. Huskies, Kaimuki Park gym (NJB All-Net League)

Saturday, May 4
1:00 pm Thunder 13U vs. Sharks, Kilauea gym (NJB All-Net League)
1:10 pm Thunder 12U vs. Sharks I, Aiea gym (Aiea League)
4:00 pm Thunder 17U vs. Boom, Palama gym (NJB All-Net League)

Sunday May 5
2:00 pm Thunder 15U vs. Kailua Blue (NJB All-Net League)

May 1 note: Adds the May 5 game (15U vs. Kailua Blue) and confirms the Friday, May 3, 5:30 time.

Video: Thunder 13U vs Homegrown I

H1 Thunder vs. Homegrown I, NJB All-Net 13U League, Saturday, Apr. 27, 2013, Kilauea District Park Gym.
Psrt 1 Part 2

12U/13U/15U practice: Tuesday 5 pm

I got the afternoon off so we'll get together for practice on Tuesday, 5:00 pm, Makiki Park. If for any reason we don't have a court to play on, we'll car pool to Stevenson Intermediate School, where they have three courts.

It won't be a long practice. I just want our younger teams to fine-tune some things, get some shooting drills in and some conditioning work done. If you need a ride, let me know. Coach Roy will be coming in from Kalihi and I can pick up anybody else, just call 551-1054.

WE LUB THIS GAME!

17U game: Correction by league, no time change

Update 3:50 pm
According to Rob Godinez III, he sent out the wrong schedule yesterday, so there is no time change. Thunder 17U will play at 8:00 pm. (PLEASE BE THERE BY 7:00 PM.) Unless something changes again. Stay tuned.

# # #

Our playoff game in the Aiea 17U League playoffs on Wednesday is now at 6:20 pm.

Please be there one hour early. We'll warm up on the outside court. I have work that afternoon, so please secure a ride to Aiea ASAP. I can get you in touch with Coach Roy and Coach Bo for a ride.

WE LUB THIS GAME!

15U: Thunder 43, Lanakila 36

We had ups and downs on offense, but when we needed to get good shots down the stretch, Thunder did a great job. It's not easy playing with just six players, but we managed pretty well on defense. Tone had a strong game on both ends, and when he hurt his leg, everybody stepped up. 15U lineup: Tone, Sifo, Keanu, Huthaifah, Jimark, Sierra. Nice work, Thunder!

The day began with a solid workout at McCully gym, a mix of 17U, 13U players. Got some shooting and ballhandling in, then fullcourt 3-on-3 and 5-on-5. It was great to see everybody working hard, working together. Practice lineup: Kaelen, Cody, Kali‘a, Kekai, Tai, Triton, Tanielu, Joshua, Javan. That was a good 3-on-3 battle we had going. Then Jared and Walter arrived and we went 5-on-5.

Always a blessing to have a gym to practice in. Good day for the Thunder!

Aiea 17U League playoffs

Just got this from the league today. Thunder 17U plays on Wednesday, 8:00 pm.

Wednesday, May 1
5:30 pm #1 Kalihi Valley Elites vs #8 Aiea Blazers 2
6:20 pm #2 Aiea Blazers 1 vs #7 Wildcats
7:10 pm #4 KKB vs #5 Pearl City Chargers
8:00 pm #3 Thunder vs #6 H4C Black

Thunder 15U game on Sunday

Sunday, 3:00 pm - Thunder 15U game, Palama Gym. Please arrive at the gym by 2:00 pm. The game will start earlier than scheduled if games finish early. WE LUB THIS GAME!

13U, 12U united

Thank you, Thunder players and parents for coming through today. The overlapping 12U and 13U games could've been a nightmare. Instead, we had enough players at the 13U game (six) and enough at the 12U game (five plus a new player) to avoid forfeit losses. Getting the wins was just a bonus.

13U: Thunder 32, Homegrown 9.
12U Thunder 23, Aiea Blazers 22, OT.

Good work today, Thunder!

Sunday, 11:00 am, McCully gym - practice/shootaround.

Saturday 12U, 13U roster update

We have overlapping games for our 12U and 13U teams on Saturday, so this is where our players are going. Please arrive at the gym one hour ahead of time. Games will start earlier if early games end early, so be there super early.

***** 13U (to Kilauea Gym, game time 1:40 pm): Micah Visoria, Tanielu Afe, Kyle Moraga, Jared Elwin, Kalai Kuia, Kali‘a Mielke, Walter Berthold.

***** 12U (to Aiea Gym, game time 2:00 pm): Ryan Higashionna, Kodee Viena, Malosi Viena, Joshua de Jesus, Javan Montiho, Chris Afe, Lio Ilalio, Felcris Corpuz.

This balances the teams out. I added Micah and Walter to the 13U team so that we have stronger numbers and reduce the chance of forfeiting. That's a strong starting 5, but meaningless if one guy is late and we don't have enough to start the game.

The question marks are Felcris (grounded), Tanielu (hasn't called back) and Chris (hasn't called back). Also haven't heard back from Lio's mom. A lot of concern for us, but if everyone shows up, we'll be fine at both games.

Please call me and let me know whether you're playing or not. And let me know if you need a ride. I'll be at the 12U game. Coach Larry and Coach Roy will be at the 13U.

Call me at 551-1054. WE LUB THIS GAME!

17U: Thunder 40, KKB 5

KKB was missing most (or all) of their starters tonight, so they played their younger guys a lot of minutes. Our guys stayed focused most of the time and played solid basketball. Not much to be said for a situation like that. But we finished third in the regular season of Aiea League. Next up: Playoffs. Also, shootaround at McCully Gym, Sunday, 11 am.

Big Mahalo to Coach Bo and Tai for picking up Isaiah and Mick for the ride to Aiea!

17U: Thunder 53, Knights 52, OT

Another thriller for the Thunder 17U. John had a steal and hit a free throw with :12 for the win.

Don't know a lot since I was home resting most of the night (flu), but thanks to Coach Bo and the Ogoshis and John for texting me the final score. The boys dug deep with the game at Kaneohe and the Knights playing strong before a big home crowd. Coach Bo said their crowd was nuts.

Isaiah was unable to play (family plans), Bryson wasn't there (again), but the guys stepped up, both starters and reserves. It's really satisfying to know that everybody is playing for the team above everything else no matter what his role is. Every role is crucial! I won't see the game video until tomorrow at the earliest, but another huge effort by our 17U made my day. AGAIN. Way to go, Thunder!

Coach Larry said the Thunder came through in the late going with some big shots. Prior to that, he said we had some offensive struggles against the Knights' 1-2-2 zone, which is understandable with Isaiah and Bryson missing. They know how to run our 2-Out offense really well. It takes precision and a lot of patience to exploit a 1-2-2, which is always weak on the low post ONLY IF we swing the ball smartly and quickly. Can't have any ball stoppages to beat a 1-2-2 consistently. We'll work on this at Sunday's practice (11 am McCully).

Mahalo to Coach Roy for picking up Mick and Brent, and also for picking up the basketballs, uniforms and video camera.

Video: Thunder vs Lakeside (varsity)

H1 Thunder vs. Lakeside, PAA Varsity Tournament, Kaimuki Park gym, pool play, Monday, Apr. 22, 2013. Lakeside featured some all-state seniors like Josh Ko (Kalaheo) and Kahanu Pu‘ulei-Auld (Moanalua), plus some talented players from Kapolei. Great battle start to finish. Thunder prevailed 46-42.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

Finding Kaneohe gym

Kaneohe District Park
45-660 Keaahala Rd, Kaneohe, HI 96744
(808) 233-7308)

Click on a map here:
MAP

Looks like the key is to get on Likelike Hwy, then turn left on Kahekili Hwy going north. The park is at the corner of Kahekili and Keaahala Rd.

Attention 12U and 13U

Thursday, 5:00 pm 12U/13U/15U PRACTICE, Makiki Park.

Saturday, 1:40 pm, 13U game, Kilauea Gym. BE THERE ONE HOUR EARLY in case games finish early. NJB will start games ahead of schedule and forfeit if we are not ready. So be there early.

Saturday, 2:00 pm, 12U game, Aiea Gym. Again, be there early.

Since the 13U and 12U play at the same time, it's important that we know our rosters and go to the correct game/gym.

***** 12U (to Aiea Gym): Micah Visoria, Walter Berthold, Ryan Higashionna, Kodee Viena, Malosi Viena, Joshua de Jesus, Javan Montiho, Chris Afe, Lio Ilalio.

***** 13U (to Kilauea Gym): Tanielu Afe, Kyle Moraga, Jared Elwin, Kalai Kuia, Kali‘a Mielke.

Since we only have five for the 13U game, we might make a change and send one or two of the 12U to that game. I'll keep everybody posted. Mahalo!

NJB schedule: two games this weekend

OK, pool play is pau for 15U in NJB All-Net, so the schedule announced by the league today includes a change. All we need to know is WHEN and WHERE.

From the league:

13U game, Saturday, Apr. 27, 1:40 pm, Kilauea Gym

15U game, Sunday, Apr. 28, 3:00 pm, Palama Gym

That's straight from the league, no confusion, no questions.

17U knocks off Lakeside

Congrats to Thunder 17U on a win over Lakeside last night. (Sorry, I was home sick, don't know the final score yet.) Coach Larry said the second group was key, playing smart basketball, keeping turnovers down. I know Isaiah and Tai were still under the weather, but played big. That made my day, guys. Looking forward to watching the game video!

Lakeside, which has some all-state players like Josh Ko (of state champion Kalaheo) and Kahanu Pu‘ulei-Auld (Moanalua), did enough in pool play to qualify for the championship game against Lanakila (Wed). Thunder will play the Knights, 5:30 pm, Kaneohe gym, Wednesday. We have to leave town early to get there on time. Please plan your car pools early, not last-minute. I'm staying in for a few days to recover from this flu. Please get in touch with Coach Bo, Coach Roy, Coach Larry for rides. WE LUB THIS GAME!

17U: game Monday, 7:30

Third pool play game of the PAA varsity tournament is on Monday, 7:30 pm, Kaimuki Park Gym. We need everybody there in full force. Warmups 6:30 pm, outside court.

15U game: forfeit loss

My apologies, everybody, again. We need everyone to study the attached NJB All-Net schedule that I forwarded twice in the past few weeks so we can avoid these mistakes. Our 15U game was actually at 11:00 am, not 11:20 am, which I misread on the funky schedule the league sent out. There's no way I can catch everything correctly, so please, please go over the schedules for all leagues so that more of us see it and we eliminate any time problems.

We showed up at Koko Head gym with enough guys (six) by 11:08 am, but by then they had charged us with a forfeit loss. It was very, very disappointing and hugely painful. I had just went to Kalihi to pick up Joshua and Jimark. But as a whole, we can avoid a lot of these problems by being at the game site at least ONE HOUR before tip off.

Again, please go over your e-mail and find the NJB and Aiea attached schedules that I've forwarded. Go through it, mark your calendar and post it to me via e-mail or here. We need to work together and be coordinated since we have three teams in NJB All-Net and two teams in Aiea League (12U, 17U), not to mention the ongoing PAA tournaments.

I'm still battling this flu/sinus infection. It's getting better, but regardless, there's no way I can do this alone. Please, everybody, look at the e-mail attached schedules. Mahalo.

It wasn't a fun day at all. On the way back to town, while taking Jimark and Joshua home, my new used car broke down. Fortunately, I'd gotten us off the freeway. My friend Peter took the boys home and I called AAA to tow my car. Not sure what happened. The tow truck driver thinks it was the alternator. I hope it's that simple.

15U game Sunday

Thunder 15U vs. Homegrown, Sunday, 11:20 am, Koko Head gym. Be there an hour early for warmups outside.

Coach Loto and Coach Heo will be in charge. My flu has gotten worse tonight, probably won't be there. We're in good shape though. WE LUB THIS GAME!

17U: Lanakila 39, Thunder 30

All in all, with just six guys, then five, we were in this one until the final minute. We finished the game with Kekai, Cody, John, Kaelen and Chase.

Lanakila was missing a few players, but we were missing most of our starters. Yet, we played smart basketball most of the afternoon and that kept it close.

By the time Isaiah had to leave (with Coach Larry for their Ikaika League game), we were down 21-16 early in the second half. But the boys held the fort down. Kekai had his best game at the point and we got some transition baskets to stay close. After Cody banked in a 3, we were tied at 23-all.

It was a hot day and having bench makes a big difference. But our guys hung tough. If we make a few more buckets, make a few more free throws, we win this game. Job well done. Hopefully, next time we're down to a skeleton crew, we pull it out.

Aiea 12U schedule revised

Aiea 12U League
Revised schedule (as of April 9)

Saturday, Apr. 27

2:00 pm Thunder vs. Aiea Blazers

Saturday, May 4
1:10 pm Thunder vs. Sharks 1

Saturday, May 11
1:10 pm Thunder vs. Knights

Saturday, May 18
11:30 am Thunder vs. Asing Heat

Saturday, May 25
12:20 pm Thunder vs. Hoops4Christ

Saturday, June 1

BYE

Saturday, June 8

Playoffs (semifinals, final)

My apologies, everybody, for today's forfeit. I had the original schedule time (2:00 pm). I didn't see the revised schedule that was e-mailed out on April 9. The revised time was 12:20 for today's game. I've asked the league to CC one of our dads on all schedule changes and info. That should make a big difference. I'm usually pretty good at keeping up with e-mails, but since I got sick (right around April 9), I've missed some key stuff.

Sorry everybody :(

Game day: 12U vs Waipahu

It's been almost a whole week since 12U played, seems like longer. Thunder 12U plays Waipahu on Saturday, 2:00 pm. I had to work during Thursday's practice so hopefully everyone got the word. Kyle told me it was a very good practice for everyone.

I don't think Chris is coming. He's got all-star football practice or game. But I expect everyone else there. Let's have some fun!

17U: Thunder 45, Wildcats 25

Good, solid defense all night against a taller, springy team. Probably our best team effort in Aiea League play this spring. Controlling the tempo is something we're going to do a lot more of and today was a great display of how it can be a huge weapon for us.

Next up: 17U plays on Saturday, 4:00 pm, Palama gym. I will be at the 12U game at Aiea at 2:00 pm then I probably have to go to work (OIA tennis, 3:00), so Coach Larry will be in charge. We'll see Malu there - he's on the NJB roster. That'll be a big help for us on the boards and on defense. Maybe some offense, too.

17U: Aiea Blazers I 68, Thunder 60

Another strong first half, then a struggle in the second half. We've got the heart and Lord knows we've got the scoring. Haka and Bryson were unconscious from 3-point land in the first half. We led 38-28 at the break. But the lack of height and interior defense always catches up with us against the best teams. Credit to the Blazers for pounding the ball inside to their go-to scorer, Tyson. Our bigs just didn't want to play big consistently tonight, and that hurt. We move on and try to make the top four to qualify for the playoffs.

(Note: Tai's absence was an obvious blow to our interior defense tonight.)

Our second-half strategy would be fine if our bigs would step up. But I'm done waiting for that to happen. They prefer to drift further and further away from the basket, so it's pointless. Literally. It's time for Plan B, 100% all the way. Nothing drastically different. We'll still run and press and shoot open 3s in the first half. But as coaches, we're going to do what we've got to do from now on. Reality vs. fiction.

18U: Lanakila 47, Thunder 30

(PAA varsity tournament)
We were short-handed (Tai had to stay home and study), and Isaiah was playing with flu symptoms. But we kept it close and I think we even tied the game late in the first half or early in the second half. But we missed a million layups, and when we made bad decisions, Lanakila made us pay.

The thing with a program like Lanakila, they've organized. They're structured. They always take good shots. I don't remember them taking a really bad shot all night. They're patient and they move without the ball. They trust each other.

We have those elements, too. And if we make half of those gimme layups, we have a good chance to win. We played pretty good defense on the perimeter, and our small guys fought hard on the boards against Lanakila's bigs. Proud our boys!

18U: OTB 44, Thunder 31

Got off to a flat start offensively and defensively, down 12-1, and never fully recovered. Had some nice runs, some great defense (Tai took at least one charge) despite our height disadvantage. We got within 7 in the second half and I felt like we had them on the ropes, but that was it. Two things to consider: 1. Never easy hitting the basketball court right after a weight-training workout, and 2. When the ride is going to be late, let me know so I can pick you up, so you can arrive early enough to warm up and eat something.

(Note: Isaiah said he was hungry before the game, but he was one of the guys who got there late and he never got a chance to eat.)

We actually came close to forfeiting the game. Fortunately, the PAA guys gave us some minutes while we waited.

If we plan and execute better, we'll be better prepared next time. But everybody's got to communicate, just like on the court. Maturity wins on and off the court.

The hustle was definitely there. Tai wanted to beat his other team so bad. But all in all, everybody tried their best. I'm looking forward to playing them again.

Thanks to Kalai for suiting up. I was going to play him a lot of minutes if we were at just five guys, but once the PAA guys said Micah Visoria couldn't play because he's only 12, I couldn't play Kalai. I think they have no idea he's 12, too. Thanks Kalai!

Tuesday: 18U vs. Lanakila, 7:45 pm, Halawa Gym. If you need a ride, let me know early. I work at a baseball game (Ala Wai) until 6:00 or 6:15. I can pick people up right after that, but no later than 6:30. I want everybody at Aiea by 6:45 to warm up outside.

12U/13U/15U practice Thursday

Heads up everybody: 12U, 13U and 15U will practice on Thursday, 5:00 pm at Makiki Park. I have to work that afternoon/night, so Coach Larry, Coach Roy, Coach Heo, Coach Cliff, Coach Loto, Coach Dean will be there to run things as usual. We'll work on basic plays, on-ball defense, the fullcourt presses and some conditioning.

17U has a busy week and has that day off. It's a pretty good life. WE LUB THIS GAME.

Sunday busy day

Just finished work. Still feeling woozy but this flu is starting to go away. 13U did a great job to start the day, beat the Owls 49-25. 15U played tough against Kaiser, lost 49-43. 17U undermanned today, blown out by Lanakila 64-20.

Between the forfeit loss on Saturday and today's shorthanded lineup, I'm just hoping the 17U gets back on track and shows up to games. 

Exhibition: Sharks 13U 44, Thunder 12U 38

Early game today was Thunder 12U vs. Sharks II, but they didn't have enough guys and forfeited. So we scrimmaged. Kalai made to the gym for the scrimmage, though technically, he's not in the league since his 13th birthday is before the end of the league. It was a good run for our six guys. When the Sharks had their 12U in, we made big scoring spurts. When they had their 13U big boys in, we struggled sometimes. All in all, it was a good workout.

Check e-mail, double check schedule

(NOTE: Just added the PAA 18U tourney schedule and Aiea 12U league schedule.)

My apologies to the 17U. Today's game was at Palama Gym, not Koko Head. In the schedule on the blog, I wrote Palama, but somewhere along the line, I wrote Koko Head. John Chow and Malu Kuia went from Koko Head to Palama and got there in time, but we only had four players and had to forfeit.

Again, I'm sorry, boys. I'm gonna need a lot more help with checking the NJB schedule, especially from guys like John who are good at picking up those details. The schedule is no fun to read and it doesn't help that I have a headache from this flu, plus some stomach issues.

Please check your e-mail. I'm resending the NJB master schedule, so please cross-check it so we can be sure where the sites are and avoid any more forfeits.

12-Under
Saturday, Apr. 20
2:00 pm, Thunder 12U vs. Waipahu, Aiea gym

Saturday, Apr. 27
2:00 pm Thunder 12U vs. Aiea Blazers, Aiea gym

Saturday, May 4
1:10 pm Thunder 12U vs. Sharks 1, Aiea gym

13-Under 
Sunday, Apr. 14
12:10 pm Thunder 13U vs. Owls, Koko Head gym (NJB All-Net)

Apr. 19-21
Bye

Saturday, Apr. 27
1:40 pm Thunder 13U vs. Homegrown I, Kilauea gym (NJB All-Net)

Friday, May 3
5:30 pm Thunder 13U vs. Crush, Koko Head gym (NJB All-Net)

Saturday, May 4
1:00 pm Thunder 13U vs. Sharks, Kilauea gym (NJB All-Net)

15-Under
Sunday, Apr. 14
1:00 pm Thunder 15U vs. Kaiser, Palolo gym

Sunday, Apr. 21
11:20 am Thunder 15U vs. Homegrown, Koko Head gym

17-Under
Sunday, Apr. 14
3:00 pm Thunder 17U vs. Lanakila Black, Palolo gym

Monday, Apr. 15
6:00 pm Thunder 17U/18U vs. OTB, Kaimuki Park gym (PAA 18U tourney)

Tuesday, Apr. 16
7:45 pm Thunder 17U/18U vs. Lanakila, Halawa gym (PAA 18U tourney)

Saturday, Apr. 20
4:00 pm Thunder 17U vs. FSU, Palama gym (NJB All-Net)

Monday, Apr. 22
7:30 pm Thunder 17U/18U vs. Lakeside, Kaimuki Park gym (PAA 18U tourney)

Wednesday, Apr. 24
TBA Thunder 17U/18U game, Kaneohe gym (PAA 18U tourney)

Apr. 26-28
Bye

Saturday, May 4
4:00 pm Thunder 17U vs. Boom, Palama gym (NJB All-Net)

Big Mahalo

Big mahalo to Coach Roy for picking up the boys at Roosevelt (Isaiah, Mick) and Pauoa (Max) on the way to Aiea for the 17U game on Wednesday. I had to work, everybody else was out of touch and if not for Roy, the boys wouldn't have made it to the game. Thanks Roy!!

Thursday progress

Good workout on Thursday at Makiki Park, 12 strong, including some new faces (Lio, Charvis) and some almost-new guys (Keanu, Malu). It was an interesting mix. We had some good competition between our bigger guys (brothers Malu and Kalai). Learning defenses and plays will take time, but the new guys are doing great. They'll be learning on the fly. Games tomorrow and Sunday. WE LUB THIS GAME!

Video: 17U vs. Hoops4Christ Silver

H1 Thunder vs. Hoops4Christ Silver, Aiea 17-under League, Aiea District Park Gym, Wednesday, Apr. 10, 2013.

Part 1 Part 2

Brothers

Brothers motivate each other. Brothers help each other up every time the other one is down. Consider yourselves brothers in this awesome game of basketball. You've battled for each other on the basketball court, played your hearts out. And it's only just beginning.

Video: 15U vs Lanakila

H1 Thunder vs. Lanakila, PAA March Madness 15U Tournament, Halawa District Park Gym, Tuesday, Apr. 9, 2013.

Part 1 Part 2

Thursday Funday

Thursday, 5:00 pm - Practice, Makiki Park. Shooting drills. Lots of shooting drills. New guys need to learn the plays. It's our first day off from games in awhile. Sharpening the tools today.

13U schedule correction

Mahalo to Nate Higashionna (Ryan's dad) for finding the mistake I typed for this weekend's 13U game in NJB All-Net League.

The game is on Sunday, not Saturday. Tip-off is 12:10 pm at Koko Head District Park gym.

This is a huge blessing because our 12U plays in Aiea League on Saturday at 1:10 pm and I was getting a headache trying to figure out who would be at both sites in case we had low numbers for 13U. But now it's not a worry at all.

Thanks Nate!

PAA varsity tourney sked

Schedule is out. Seniors allowed to play. Who's in?

Monday, Apr. 15
6:00 pm Thunder vs. OTB, Kaimuki Community Park gym

Tuesday, Apr. 16
7:45 pm Thunder vs. Lanakila, Halawa District Park gym

Monday, Apr. 22
7:30 pm Thunder vs. Lakeside, Kaimuki Community Park gym

Wednesday, Apr. 24
5:30-8:30 pm Playoff TBA, Kaneohe District Park gym

17U: Thunder 71, H4C Silver 16

Good defense, lots of hustle and solid fastbreak/transition. It was a challenge to stay focused and play good defense from start to finish, so our job tonight was to make sure we did that best we could. Smart basketball is crucial for a smaller team like ours, and we did that most of the night. Good work. Next up: Aiea Blazers on Friday, 5:30 pm. Please get there early. Friday traffic is always bad, so leave town soon as you can. WE LUB THIS GAME!

Note: 17U, you guys are really busy. After Friday, there's a Saturday, 4:00 pm game vs. Hurricanes on Saturday and a Sunday, 3:00 pm game vs. Lanakila Black.

On Monday and Tuesday, we have PAA varsity tournament games, then the Wednesday and Friday after that, more NJB All-Net games, followed by a Saturday (Apr 20) NJB All-Net game. That's seven games in a span of eight days. Fun times ahead! 

Video: 15U vs OTB II

H1 Thunder vs. OTB, PAA March Madness 15U Tournament, Monday, Apr. 8, 2013, Kaimuki Community Park gym.

Part 1 Part 2

17U needs a ride

Need help with transportation. I have to work at Pearl City all afternoon, won't be pau until 6 pm. Our 17U plays at 6:20, Aiea gym. Some guys need rides. Please call me at 551-1054. Pickup would be 5:00 at Roosevelt (Isaiah, Mick, Bryson), 5:15 at Booth Park (Max).

Isaiah's # is 699-6048. Max 382-0397. Mahalo.

NJB All-Net schedules (corrected)

Was at the coaches meeting tonight. Here's what they have for the month of April and early May (pool play). The rest of the schedule will be released later.

Please be at all games one hour before game time for warmups. NJB All-Net will start games early sometimes.

13-Under 
Saturday, Apr. 13
Sunday, Apr. 14
12:10 pm Thunder 13U vs. Owls, Koko Head gym
(Note: Mahalo to Nate Higashionna for finding the error I listed yesterday. Our 13U game is on Sunday, not Saturday. Thanks Nate!)

Apr. 19-21
Bye

Saturday, Apr. 27
1:40 pm Thunder 13U vs. Homegrown I, Kilauea gym

Friday, May 3
5:30 pm Thunder 13U vs. Crush, Koko Head gym

Saturday, May 4
1:00 pm Thunder 13U vs. Sharks, Kilauea gym

15-Under
Sunday, Apr. 14
1:00 pm Thunder 15U vs. Kaiser, Palolo gym

Sunday, Apr. 21
11:20 am Thunder 15U vs. Homegrown, Koko Head gym

17-Under
Saturday, Apr. 13
4:00 pm Thunder 17U vs. Hurricanes, Palama gym

Sunday, Apr. 14
3:00 pm Thunder 17U vs. Lanakila Black, Palolo gym

Saturday, Apr. 20
4:00 pm Thunder 17U vs. FSU, Palama gym

Apr. 26-28
Bye

Saturday, May 4
4:00 pm Thunder 17U vs. Boom, Palama gym

Video: 13U vs. OTB

H1 Thunder vs. OTB, NJB All-Net 13-under League, Palolo Gym, Sunday, Apr. 7, 2013.
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

15U: OTB II 55, H1 Thunder 44

Sure, we lost tonight. But think about this: 24 hours earlier, basically the same OTB team beat us at Palama Gym (NJB All-Net League) by 28 points.

This time, at Kaimuki Park Gym (PAA Tourney), we handled their halfcourt on-ball pressure much better. We still have work to do with overall execution, but we're getting better steadily, bit by bit, and our defensive pressure is still strong. As we improve on all the little things (positioning on the press, boxing out, decisions with the ball, maintaining composure), success will follow. This, I know.

In fact, next time we play OTB, we know who their 3-point shooter is and we'll be prepared for that. Take away the four or five 3-pointers he made tonight and guess what? Not only are we right there even with them, but we probably win the game. Even with our glut of turnovers early in the game.

I hope everyone understands this: Tonight proves that when we play smart, sharp, aggressive and pass the ball early and quickly, we can beat anybody. OTB II is playing for the tourney championship tomorrow. Are they that much better than us?

Of course not. They're a really good team. We're going to be there with them sooner rather than later. Just keep working Thunder 15U. WE LUB THIS GAME!

15U plays for fifth place tomorrow (Tuesday), 6:15 pm, Halawa Gym, against Lanakila.

Video: 15U vs Kupaa

H1 Thunder vs. Kupaa, NJB All-Net 15-under League, Saturday, Apr. 6, 2013, Palama Settlement Gym.
Part 1 Part 2

15U: OTB I 67, Thunder 39

Updated
(Sorry, I don't know the final score, video camera's in the car and I'm eating dinner. But we got routed by about 20-25.)

Four hours after we tipped off against OTB's 13U team, the Thunder 15U played OTB at Palama Gym. We led 14-5 as Tone dominated in the low post ... then it was a sloppy, ugly mess after that with a few highlights mixed in.

It came down to this: We turned the ball over again and again against their two guards pressing at midcourt. That's basically it. We prepared for this at practice recently, spending 30 minutes working on ballhandling against traps. We still need to do this drill. A lot. Today was just a vivid example of a group of mostly inexperienced players really spinning out of control against a defense that hardly did much to create havoc.

Some simple things to remember next time (Monday, actually) any defense sends two trappers to the middle of the court on our ballhandler.

1. Immediate cut to the high post/top of the key. It can be a wing or low post, but someone's got to cut. When we did this, we got layups.

2. If you pass to the wing, or dribble up the sideline, don't stop in their trap zone. Keep your dribble, keep your head up and hit an open man in the middle.

3. If you're on the wing and the defender leaves you to trap, call for the ball. LOUDLY.

I'm looking forward to Monday's game with OTB (PAA Tournament). They're good. But we can be so much better than we were today. I expect a total turnaround and a lot more fun come Monday night at Kaimuki Park gym.

13U: H1 Thunder 46, OTB 33

Good team win against a tall OTB team today at Palolo gym. We had eight guys: Ryan was at a function for his grandma, but Tanielu and Chris came to the game. Unfortunately, they're both fighting off colds. Chris was especially worn down. Both them have been super busy with football. Then Chris pulled an abdominal muscle in the first half and couldn't play at all.

With Jared in foul trouble all game long, we were basically playing with six guys. They came through and played big. Kyle, Joshua, Kalai, Kali‘a, Micah V, plus Jared, Tanielu and Chris. OTB's height and rebounding were big challenges, but our defensive pressure more than made up for it. Great, great heart today by the Thunder 13U! Also a lot of intelligent basketball.

Need all NJB league waiver forms

Please bring the form today, all 13U, 15U and 17U. I e-mailed forms to everyone earlier. If you need another e-mail with the form attached, let me know (text or call me 551-1054). Or check your e-mail today.

17U you can bring forms to me at Makiki Park, 5:30 pm, today (shooting practice).

The league wants everything in ASAP. I'll drop off the paperwork at their office on Monday.

Also: If you haven't turned in a copy of your birth certificate recently, please do so. We have to have all birth certificates available at all times.

Thanks everybody!

Aiea 12U League schedule

Just released by Rob Godinez III this morning. Please check your e-mail for the waiver form and schedule. If I erred on anything let me know.

Aiea 12-under League schedule
Released Apr. 7, 2013

Saturday, Apr. 13
1:10 pm Thunder vs. Sharks II

Saturday, Apr. 20
2:00 pm Thunder vs. Waipahu

Saturday, Apr. 27
2:00 pm Thunder vs. Aiea Blazers

Saturday, May 4
1:10 pm Thunder vs. Sharks I

Saturday, May 11
1:10 pm Thunder vs. Knights

Saturday, May 18
2:00 pm Thunder vs. Asing Heat

Saturday, May 25
1:10 pm Thunder vs. Hoops4Christ

Playoffs
Saturday, June 8
Semifinals and finals, 9:00 am-3:00 pm

Video: Thunder 13U vs Ali‘i White

H1 Thunder vs. Ali‘i White, NJB All-Net 13-under League, Saturday, Apr. 6, 2013, Palama Settlement Gym.
Part 1 Part 2

15U: Thunder 53, Kupaa 19

Can't remember the final score, but 15U did a solid job tonight. We've got a lot of versatile players, both new guys and returnees, so that makes things a little more fun. Like the way we pushed the ball (most of the time) and worked hard in halfcourt and fullcourt defense. Kupaa suited up a young team, recognized several of them from the 14U/13U team they had in a tournament a couple of weeks ago. Glad we kept their long-range shooting under check.

Good job Thunder. WE LUB THIS GAME!

13U: Thunder 31, Ali‘i White 27

Nice work by Thunder 13U in the win this morning at Palama Settlement Gym. Only seven players in uniform, so we did a smart job with pushing tempo and slowing tempo when necessary. It was a boost when Kyle showed up on church day. Hopefully, Kalai can make it on Sunday (tomorrow) when we play (12 pm, Palama gym). Our chemistry as a team is a HUGE asset when the 3-point shots aren't falling. Ali‘i White is a solid, athletic team. Our edge was our experience together as a team. TEAM! WE LUB THIS GAME.

Video: 17U vs. Hoops4Christ Black

Part 1 Part 2

13U, 15U start NJB All-Net today

Game day, game day, game day. The 13U plays at 1:10 pm, Palama Gym, against Ali‘i II. Please be there one hour early for warmups.

15U plays at 8:00 pm, Palama Gym, against Kupaa. Again, be there one hour early. 15U is in for a lot of hoops with games Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. (The Monday and Tuesday games are in PAA's tournament).

Here's the combined schedule for Saturday through Wednesday. WE LUB THIS GAME!

Saturday, Apr. 6
1:10 pm - Thunder 13U vs. Ali‘i White, Palama Gym (NJB All-Net)
8:00 pm - Thunder 15U vs. Kupaa, Palama Gym (NJB All-Net)

Sunday, Apr. 7
12:00 pm - Thunder 13U vs. OTB, Palolo Gym (NJB All-Net)
4:00 pm - Thunder 15U vs. OTB I, Palama Gym (NJB All-Net)

Monday, Apr. 8
5:00 pm - 13U practice, Makiki Park
7:30 pm - Thunder 15U vs. OTB II, Kaimuki Park Gym (PAA Tournament)

Tuesday, Apr. 9
5:30-8:30 pm - PAA 15U Tournament, TBA, Kaneohe Gym

Wednesday, Apr. 10
6:20 pm 17U vs. Hoops4Christ Silver, Aiea District Park gym (Aiea 17U League)

17U: Thunder 46, Hoops4Christ Black 34

Good team win for the Thunder 17U tonight. We were missing a few guys again, but had eight ready to go and Cody suited up to give us nine. (Haka had texted earlier that he wasn't coming. Big mahalo to Coach Bo for picking up Isaiah, Mick, Bryson and Max on the way to Aiea!)

That first half, with the stoppages and running clock, the refs talking with the scoreboard guys for almost minute was quite still. There was more dead action (free throws) than live action, but our guys managed to get a 17-10 lead with some good defense and a late run before halftime. They kept working hard defensively and we opened a 15-point lead (or so) in the second half. H4C is always tough, always working hard and they play together, so we dropped the press once we got that hard-earned double-digit lead rather than risk losing it - especially when our reserves were in the game.

Learning what works best for our different combinations is key early in the season. With one group we can run and pressure fullcourt. With another group, we're better in halfcourt zone or man with no press. It goes on and on for both ends of the court.

The 17U don't have a game again until Wednesday (Aiea League), then Friday, and a busy weekend with NJB All-Net, followed by the start of a PAA 17U tournament on the following Monday and Tuesday. It's a good life.

Slight change in tactics for 17U

Call it the Pupule Ohana Blueprint. Back in the 1990s when Coach Paul still had a some speed and hops, our team in Kona was the smallest by far. I was the tallest guy (5-10 3/4). But we had quickness and aggression, smarts and skill. So we (John Anderson, Fast Eddie Dias, Victor McDaniel, Randy Morris) would press these teams in the adult league and they would wig out. Steals and threes all night. We'd build a good lead by halftime.

Then, in the second half, we'd spread the floor, Four Corners style and pull these big guys (almost every team had couple of guys in the 6-5 to 6-8 range) out of their zones. It almost always worked. They would chase us out way past the 3-point line and we'd drive right past them, dish the ball for layups or just do a U-turn and reset. The big guys hated us but we did what we had to do to finish games smart and strong.

That team, for several years, finished among the top 2 in the league almost every time.

For our 17U, the past two games have provided all the evidence. We play great in the first half. Our press and 3-point shooting just kill people.Then we fade in the second half.  (We led Pearl City 35-22 at halftime, lost the lead and rallied to win 56-51. Against Kalihi Valley, we led 27-15 at the half and were outscored in the second half 31-11.)

So instead of continuing something that falters in the second half, the game plan will be to go full throttle in the first half, then pull back in the second half, regain some juice in our legs and finish strong.

We did the same thing a couple of years ago with our 15U and it worked out better. Telling Keanu Vela that we would slow things down in the second half until the 10-minute mark was never easy, of course, but we did what we needed to do with just seven, eight guys. We'll do the same tonight and for the rest of the 17U season. I think ...

Thursday Funday

Excellent workout today, nice turnout for 15U and 13U practice. We got to do some work in the gym for about 45 minutes before we went outside. Mahalo to Coach Heo, Coach Cliff, Coach Roy, Coach Loto and Coach Rob for bringing the guys and running practice after I went to work. Good to see our championship players back (12U), guys from last year's 12U title team (now 13U), and our 15U guys - plus some new ballers like Keanu and one of the brand-new guys from McKinley. (I admit, I can't remember his name yet, but I like him. Works hard, doesn't mess around.)

My challenge is to bring everybody together to work as a team. It's that simple. When everybody has that same mentality, success follows. Hardship, too, but it's all part of the voyage and it's all fun in the end. I can only focus on the guys (and girls) who are there, giving you guys my 100%. That's plenty enough for me and all us coaches.

I just know 12U, 13U, 15U and 17U are getting better and working hard. WE LUB THIS GAME!

Video: 17U vs. Kalihi Valley

Thunder vs. Kalihi Valley Elites, Aiea 17U League, Wednesday, Apr. 3, 2013, Aiea District Park Gym.
Part 1 Part 2

Combined schedule: 17U+15U+13U+12U

NJB All-Net has only this weekend's games (15U, 13U) schedule. 17U starts next week.

Aiea 12U League (Apr 13) is seeking two more teams. All games will be on Saturdays 11:30 am to 3 pm.

Please be at all games one hour before game time for warmups and pre-game meeting. WE LUB THIS GAME!

Wednesday, Apr. 3

8:00 pm - Thunder 17U vs. Kalihi Valley, Aiea District Park Gym (Aiea League)

Thursday, Apr. 4

5:00 pm - Practice, 15U/13U, Kalakaua

Friday, Apr. 5

7:10 pm - 17U vs Hoops4Christ Black, AIea District Park Gym (Aiea League)

Saturday, Apr. 6

1:10 pm - Thunder 13U vs. Ali‘i White, Palama Gym (NJB All-Net)

8:00 pm - Thunder 15U vs. Kupaa, Palama Gym (NJB All-Net)

Sunday, Apr. 7 

12:00 pm - Thunder 13U vs. OTB, Palolo Gym (NJB All-Net)

4:00 pm - Thunder 15U vs. OTB I, Palama Gym (NJB All-Net)

Monday, Apr. 8

5:00 pm - 13U practice, Makiki Park

7:30 pm - Thunder 15U vs. OTB II, Kaimuki Park Gym (PAA Tournament) 

Tuesday, Apr. 9

5:30-8:30 pm - PAA 15U Tournament, TBA, Kaneohe Gym

Wednesday, Apr. 10

6:20 pm 17U vs. Hoops4Christ Silver, Aiea District Park gym (Aiea 17U League)

Thursday, Apr. 11

5:00 pm - 15U/13U practice, Makiki Park

Friday, Apr. 12

5:30 pm 17U vs. Aiea Blazers II, Aiea District Park gym (Aiea 17U League)

NJB schedule TBA (13U/15U/17U)

Saturday, Apr. 13

Aiea 12U League begins

NJB schedule TBA (13U/15U/17U)

Sunday, Apr. 14

NJB schedule TBA (13U/15U/17U)

Monday, Apr. 15

PAA 17U Tournament, TBA, Kaimuki Park Gym

Tuesday, Apr. 16

PAA 17U Tournament, TBA, Halawa Gym

Wednesday, Apr. 17

5:30 pm 17U vs. Aiea Blazers I, Aiea District Park gym (Aiea 17U League)

Thursday, Apr. 18

5:00 pm - 15U/13U practice, Makiki Park

Friday, Apr. 19

8:00 pm 17U vs. Wildcats, Aiea District Park gym (Aiea 17U League)

NJB schedule TBA (13U/15U/17U)

Saturday, Apr. 20

Aiea 12U League 

NJB schedule TBA (13U/15U/17U)

Sunday, Apr. 21

NJB schedule TBA (13U/15U/17U)

Monday, Apr. 22

PAA 17U Tournament, TBA, Kaimuki Park Gym

Wednesday, Apr. 24

Bye, Aiea 17U League

PAA 17U Tournament, TBA, Kaneohe Gym

Thursday, Apr. 25

5:00 pm - 15U/13U practice, Makiki Park

Friday, Apr. 26

8:00 pm 17U vs. KKB, Aiea District Park gym (Aiea 17U League)

NJB schedule TBA (13U/15U/17U)

Saturday, Apr. 27

NJB schedule TBA (13U/15U/17U)

Sunday, Apr. 28

NJB schedule TBA (13U/15U/17U)

Monday, Apr. 29

5:00 pm - 15U/13U practice, Makiki Park

Wednesday, May 1

Aiea 17U League, playoffs, TBA

Friday, May 3

Aiea 17U League, semifinals, TBA

NJB schedule TBA (13U/15U/17U)

Saturday, May 4

Aiea 12U League 

NJB schedule TBA (13U/15U/17U)

Sunday, May 5

NJB schedule TBA (13U/15U/17U)

Wednesday, May 8

Aiea 17U League, championship game, third-place game, TBA

Friday, May 10

NJB schedule TBA (13U/15U/17U)

Saturday, May 11

Aiea 12U League 

NJB schedule TBA (13U/15U/17U)

Sunday, May 12

NJB schedule TBA (13U/15U/17U)

Friday, May 17

NJB schedule TBA (13U/15U/17U)

Saturday, May 18

Aiea 12U League 

NJB schedule TBA (13U/15U/17U)

Sunday, May 19

NJB schedule TBA (13U/15U/17U)

Friday, May 24

NJB schedule TBA (13U/15U/17U)

Saturday, May 25

Aiea 12U League (playoffs)

NJB schedule TBA (13U/15U/17U)

Sunday, May 26

NJB schedule TBA (13U/15U/17U)

Saturday, June 1

Aiea 12U League (semifinals)

Saturday, June 8

Aiea 12U League (championship game)

Note: CAL 15U/13U League starts in June. PAA 15U/13U starts in June. Summer trip in July? 

More to be posted when the schedules are released.

WE LUB THIS GAME!

Video: 15U vs. Windward

H1 Thunder vs. Windward, PAA 15U March Madness Tournament, Tuesday, Apr. 2, 2013, Halawa District Park Gym.
Part 1 Part 2

17U: Kalihi Valley 46, Thunder 38

First loss in Aiea 17U League tonight for our Thunder. Kalihi Valley rallied to win 46-38. Some notes.

• We played a very good first half, handling their fullcourt press and halfcourt traps — and their man defense — well. We had solid execution. Great hustle. That had us up 27-15.

• Our patience against the press really faded in the second half. We had a torrent of turnovers, but it's correctible. If we run the pressbreaker, we break that press every time. Looking back, when they made that 11-0 run to start the second half, I should've burned a time out (there are only two per half) to make sure we set up and execute the pressbreaker instead of overdribbling. Example: We hit the middle to break the press consistently in the first half. Second half, we ran away too often and there wasn't a consistent target in the middle. Correctible!

• The fatigue was a factor. Though we were shorthanded, we had eight players and that should've been enough. But we were not deep at guard and as a coach, I should've slowed the pace down to save our legs. Isaiah was clearly gassed in the second half, and I had Mick on the bench a little too long.

• Our zone defense was not smart in the second half, giving up too many drives through the middle, and too many offensive rebounds. A big, quick team like that can really crash the boards if we don't box out, and the video will show this.

• We missed a lot of second-half shots, and that's due in large part to fatigue, again. This happened with us in the past with our 15U team, when we scored 43 points in the first half (against Kapolei), but we had just seven guys and tired in the second half.

This time, we pulled back and saved our legs in the first half, and I should've done more of it in the second half. I just expected us to have fresh legs, but with Kalihi Valley pushing the tempo and pressing all over the court, I didn't realize until it was too late that our guards were wearing down.

• When we miss shots that often, it's always a good backup plan to attack the basket, get layups and free throws. Best of all worlds, we hit shots inside and outside.

• Bryson's foul trouble was another factor. Two of the fouls were all ball, but the refs never lose. We've got to be cautious about fouls.

• A lot of adversity tonight. Haka played despite having the flu because we were down to six players in pre-game. Jimark suited up and we ended up having eight by game time. There are other sick guys, one guy on a college tour on the continent, just a lot of guys missing tonight. Of course, that made a significant difference.

Overall, it's the same rule as always. Players win games and coaches lose them. I've already got a game plan for the next time we play Kalihi Valley, hopefully in the playoffs. Our guys always give 100% effort. We'll take care of the simple mistakes so we can get back to being efficient for two halves.

WE LUB THIS GAME!

Finally, big mahalo to Coach Bo and Tai for picking up four of the boys on the way to Aiea.

17U: Pickup route

GAME DAY! 17U vs. Kalihi Valley, 8:00 pm, Aiea gym. Does anybody else need a ride?

Wednesday pickup
6:30 pm - Jimark, Joshua.
6:45 pm - Isaiah, Mick.

I'll be rounding back to town from a baseball game at pearl city, might be a little bit early or late. But we should be at aiea by 7:15. WE LUB THIS GAME.

12U: Need a few more (UPDATE)

The Aiea 12U League will begin on April 13, one week later than planned, as they try to find two more teams.

For us, that's a blessing since we are low in numbers. The cutoff for birthdates is June 8 (final day of the league). Our roster looks like this right now.

Micah Visoria
Walter Berthold
Ryan Higashionna
Joshua de Jesus
Felcris Corpuz
Chris Afe*
Javan Montiho*
John Mandac*

* Chris Afe has football until mid-April and will join us after that for the rest of the season. Woohooo!

* Javan Montiho is in wrestling and his mom said he'll make it when he can.

* Felcris' friend, John Mandac, is interested in playing, so he might be our eighth guy. He's been asking me about joining our team for more than a month. I want to see if he's committed to practicing first.

But basically we have five guys who are definite for the opening game (April 13). When Chris returns, it'll be six. With John that would be seven.

We need two or three more players. I've asked Kodee Viena's dad, Dean, if she would be interested. If she returns to our team, that would be a big plus.

Also, Coach Allen (Palolo) has kindly offered to combine teams. He has five players available. If we combine, we would have 12 or 13 players and that's a little too many.

We've got a little time to sort this out. It's good to have ballers who love the game.

UPDATE  1:45 pm - Got word from Drew that Kodee and Malosi will join in. That's a big add! That makes the 12U roster 10 strong. If Javan can't make it, we'll be all right with nine. And Chris will miss the first game (football), so we can get by with eight.

Practice is Thursday, 5:00 pm, Kalakaua. See you guys there. WE LUB THIS GAME!

Vroom Vroom! NJB sked is out

Only this weekend's games have been posted by NJB All-Net. They have 67 teams from 11U to 17U, so please be patient with the process. Our 15U and 13U each have two games on Saturday and Sunday. 17U in NJB All-Net will start next week (fewer teams).

Please note: I will forward the e-mail (and attachments) from NJB to all parents on the mailout list. Please go through the schedule with its letter/number coding and make sure I have the right dates/times.

The more eyes, the better. WE LUB THIS GAME!

NJB All-Net 
13U division
Pool C
Team C2 - H1 Thunder

Saturday, Apr. 6
1:10 pm - Thunder 13U vs. Ali‘i White (C5), Palama Gym

Sunday, Apr. 7
12:00 pm - Thunder 13U vs. OTB (C1), Palolo Gym

15U division
Pool D
Team D4 - H1 Thunder

Saturday, Apr. 6
8:00 pm - Thunder 15U vs. Kupaa (D5), Palama Gym

Sunday, Apr. 7
4:00 pm - Thunder 15U vs. OTB I (D3), Palama Gym

15U: Thunder 34, Windward 33

Solid comeback win for 15U against Windward, 34-33. We finally look like a cohesive team after all these games. The fullcourt pressure and halfcourt pressure was key tonight. When shots aren't falling, defense will always be a big weapon.

No Max, no Brent, no Tanielu tonight, so Tone was battling Windward's 6-4 guy on the glass all night and did a fine job. A lot of teamwork tonight, good gang rebounding, swarming pressure on the ball, smart passing against Windward's 1-3-1 halfcourt pressure. I think all of us coaches and parents are impressed.

Still a lot of work to be done, but I'm not clowning around when I say we have a chance to be a really good team in 15U. It starts at practice, of course. Thursday, 5:00 pm, Kalakaua. I'll pick up anybody who needs a ride. 551-1054.

Great hustle, Thunder!

17U: Do you like to play?

PAA is putting together a 17U tournament, four games over a nine-day span. (Similar to the current 15U tournament.)

Current seniors are allowed to play.

Schedule times to be announced later.

• Monday, Apr. 15, Kaimuki Park Gym
• Tuesday, Apr. 16, Halawa District Park Gym
• Monday, Apr. 22, Kaimuki Park Gym
• Wednesday, Apr. 24, Kaneohe District Park Gym

The Mondays and Tuesdays are good nights for us. The Wednesday (Apr 24) works out because that's our bye night in the Aiea 17U League. We are already officially in the tourney.

Anybody wanna play?

15U: No excuses anymore

GAME DAY - 15U vs. Windward, 6:15 pm, Halawa Gym. Warmups 5:15. Note: Brent and Tanielu (football) not available tonight. The good news about last night is 1) we had 14 players, 2) everybody hustled, 3) nobody gave up, 4) we saw how lack of time together hurt us.

15U players - This tournament is a chance to work together and improve as a team. That means coming to practice like the 13U and 17U do. From this point on, we're buckling down. Practice is mandatory. If you miss a practice and have a legit reason, we'll be flexible. No legit reason, you sit one half or more. We have to be prepared to compete, and right now, we are not when it comes to 15U. If the work ethic is there, we can play a lot of great basketball. Let's do this.

When NJB All-Net 15U league starts this weekend, the 15U and 13U will be split. Rule is nobody can play in two divisions (NJB). It's time to step up, 15U.

NEXT PRACTICE for 15U and 13U is Thursday, 5:00 pm, Kalakaua. (Originally was 6:00, time change.) If you need a ride to practice, let me know. I live in Mo'ili'ili, so I can pick up anybody for a ride. If you are not coming to practice, text or call me at 551-1054. WE LUB THIS GAME.

13U, 15U are in

"I should be able to place 13s and 15s."

That's from Matt Tsukazaki, who runs the NJB All-Net League, in an e-mail sent this afternoon. (I just got home and read it.) Yes, that's good news. Great news. Otherwise, it would've been pretty quiet for our younger teams until CAL League starts again in June. 

In the meantime, I need everybody in 13U, 15U and 17U to fill out waiver forms for NJB as quickly as possible. Here's what I need from everyone: 

• Waiver form

• Coaches registration forms

• Copy of birth certificate 

Check your e-mails tonight/Tuesday morning. I'm resending all the attachments sent to me from NJB. If you don't get one, e-mail or call me (551-1054). 

Entry fee cost: Each team has a $550 entry fee that doesn't include a $5 health insurance charge per player. So each team is basically $600.

I'm covering half the cost, so for each team, the cost for the players is $300, split up by 10 players, which is $30 per player. 

If it seems like NJB is super expensive, it is. Two years ago, 2011, the cost was $400. Then in 2012, it was $500. That's why I always tell everyone that what we get by playing in the Aiea and CAL Leagues is so valuable. Their prices are 50% lower and the quality of officiating and league operation (I can tell you there's nothing more awesome than a schedule that's easy to read) are just as good — and sometimes better. 

It's good to have quality options, and compared to when I was a kid, there are so many good leagues. It's a great time to be a baller. 

Uniforms cost: The new (and old) orange/white reversibles are $50 for the top and bottom. If you want to keep yours, you'll have to buy it. I just ordered 20 new ones, which we've used in our most recent 17U and 15U games. I know $50 is kind of expensive, but for reversibles, it's a good price (plus shorts). 

If you want to buy a jersey only, that's $35 - the same price our jersey provider (Phyxius Sports/Kelii Silva) charges when we've bought jerseys without shorts. 

So there it is. We'll be busy with NJB All-Net 17U, 15U and 13U, plus Aiea 17U and 12U. Btw, that Aiea 12U League ($400 entry fee) will start on April 13 instead of April 6. We're still looking for more players and the league is still looking for two more teams. 

15U tourney: Open Court 41, Thunder 26

We did some good things tonight against Open Court, but the lack of practice time together hurt us. Our 17U and 13U have worked together for so long, the chemistry is there. Smart passes. Quick transition. Easy, open shots.

Tomorrow, 15U plays at Halawa Gym, 6:15 pm. Be there by 5:15 so we can walk through a few halfcourt plays and inbounds plays. Let's keep working and moving forward. We can get better as long as we work together. I'm committed to you guys in 15U. But we need 100% commitment to working together, showing up to practice - everything. Let's make it happen.