H1 Thunder 72, LA Titans 61 (14U)

WYBT 14U Tournament, Kailua-Kona
Not 100% sure about that final score. We all thought differently, but 72-61 sounded about right. All in all, the Titans were as scrappy and relentless as we had heard. A team of close friends, not some AAU squad or what not, who have great chemistry.

They handled our fullcourt pressure well, so we dropped it in the second half and sat in a zone. The Titans went cold from deep, we went on a fastbreak-fueled run and opened the lead gradually to about 15 or 16. Our reserves gave us some key minutes in the first half, and more to close out the game. This was our eighth game in five days, so our legs weren't what they used to be, which made our reserves more valuable than ever.

Though Chris and Chase played well, they ended up fouling out in the final quarter. I really see how these games against varsity and 14U teams has built up some basketball IQ in our younger/less experienced players. Guys stepped up when some of our starters had illnesses or injuries. It was fun to see.

We finished 5-0 in the tourney, first place. The guys received these unique surf-oriented trophies. Every one of our 12 guys in 14U was a vital link. That's especially when it's 90 degrees in a beach-side gym with zero wind and 90% humidity. Saunaville.

Tanielu was spectacular at times in this tourney, simply too explosive to the hoop for man and zone defenses. But it was the passing of him and entire team that made the biggest improvement. We were able to get high-percentage shots from Chris on the low post pretty consistently, or kick out to open gunners like Kapaa, Josh and Jared on the perimeter.

Kapaa was very aggressive taking the ball to the basket all weekend long, even when his legs were weary. He's come a long way since last winter, learning how to drive with authority AND control, willing to absorb contact to get free throws.

Jared keeps getting stronger, better, smarter ... it's a tough, tough job being a point guard for the H1 Thunder. So many responsibilities. But he thrived when the pressure was greatest, helping lift us to big wins in the tourney.

Lineup: Jared Elwin, Josh M DE Jesus, Tanielu Mosi Afe, Kapaa Nishimura, Colin Micah Ramos, Chris Afe, Felcris Jay Corpuz Ahadain,Chase Santos, Ryan Higashionna, Gabriel Porras, Micah Visoria, Javan Montiho.

We head back to HNL tonight after a weekend of hoops heaven in muggy, hot-as-heck Kona. (7-1 overall, counting the Big West Conference Officials/HISOA varsity tournament.) The kids had a blast, and it was possible only through our parents back home, our parents on the road (Coach Rod, Coach Kalei, Coach Carl). Uncle Nate (aka The Glue, The Backbone) was especially crucial, coordinating all kinds of logistics, keeping us on schedule, keeping the guys hydrated at games, shooting game video. Auntie Suzy was with us for the last two days and helped out a ton with cooking and looking after the guys (cleaning up their mess often).

MAHALO to our Thunder parents and Thunder Ohana. Mrs. Chang, Kevin Au, Robert Shropshire (one of my old pals from Kona who donated $100 to us this week), and all the Ohana. Every dollar helps. The kids see all the time just how much they are not alone in this world. There are lots of folks who follow their travels and experiences, folks who care and want to see them all succeed.

It's just a basketball trip on paper, but to me it's a time of building memories in a totally new place for most of these future leaders. It wasn't a bad way to close out summer vacation, no doubt about that.

WE LUB THIS GAAAAME!!

Next: Sunday, 9:19 pm - Depart Kona for Honolulu (Flight 397).

Post-game 7/28

After 4 wins at the WYBT, we're one game away from going undefeated. But right now, the boys feel like champs after a big win over the tough Kona Stingrays. We're at Waikoloa where the kids are swimming in the humongous pool at the place where some of the parents and kids are staying.
This pool is incredible. Just laying here on a long chair, even in the dark, feels like we're living large. So does staying in the condo back in Kailua-Kona. Gonna miss that place, but we've got great memories to last a lifetime thanks to the parents, friends, supporters who helped make this trip possible. WE LUB YOU MAAN!!

H1 Thunder 68, Kona Stingrays 54 (14U)

WYBT 14U Tournament, Kailua-Kona
After splitting two games with the Stingrays last week at the NJB Classic, our guys were very motivated today. Losing to them by 26 in that tourney's third-place game must've really bothered them. They came out playing hard, a little too aggressive at times. We came back from a 7-point deficit, but trailed 31-29 at halftime.

The Stingrays' 3-point shooters killed us in the first half. Though they were missing a few players — I think they are committed to football and/or were from Honokaa during the NJB tourney — they were still incredibly smart with ball movement. In a lot of ways, they're like us and we're like them.

We trailed at the half 31-29. We went to man defense exclusively in the second half, dropping the press entirely. The guys picked up their level of defensive intensity and turned the game around. Tani got a lot of passes on the break for layups when we opened the lead to 49-33.

Chase's back tightened up in warmups, but we got strong play from Colin in his place. Jared was superb defensively and offensively, knocking down four or five treys in the second half while covering the PG. Kapaa gave us the usual multi-skilled performance with rebounding, great close-out defense on shooters, work at the point and wings.

Chris was key from the start with several low-post power moves for buckets. That opened up opportunities for our other guys when the double teams arrived. It took some time for us to figure out how to attack a man defense with so much help in the paint, but the guys did it with a lot of penetration and kick-outs.

Tani sat most of the last 10 or so minutes with a bruise on his shin, but our reserves (13U) came in and executed well again. They held their own against big teams this year, and they did enough for us tonight with Chase out and Tani slightly dinged up.

All in all, it was a big win for a team that had back-to-back games (with a 60-minute rest break). Beating the Stingrays is never, never easy. We're just fortunate that we played one of our best games of the year in the Stingrays' turf. There will be epic battles with them in the future, I'm 100% sure of that.

The guys were so stoked after the win. They were so gratified, much more than I expected. They might still be celebrating now, at least in their spirit and mood as a team. Can't blame them. They took all of my direction and a lot of my criticism and kept answering with great plays, great hustle, GREAT HEART. Lub these guys!

Tani put it like this after the game: "The Stingrays are just like us, coach." I agree. They practice hard, work together, play aggressively on both ends of the court, move the ball, share the ball and can shoot the 3 with the best of them. But the intangibles matter to both teams: playing clean, hard basketball. No trash talking. Just loving the game and loving their teammates.

Next: Tuesday, 10:30 am - H1 Thunder vs. LA Titans (WYBT 14U).

WE LUB THIS GAME!

H1 Thunder 65, Hanakila (Kauai) 50 (14U)

WYBT 14U Tournament, Kailua-Kona
We led all the way, though Hanakila was physical and determined. We had a double-digit lead, but it dwindled to about 6 or 8 in the second half before we went on a run. Again, our reserves (13U) did a solid job in maintaining the cushion most times, giving our starters plenty of rest for the later matchup with the Kona Stingrays.

Chris finally got back on the court after battling a sore throat and somedehydration. He finally started tanking a LOT of water and Gatorade and was a force in the paint against Hanakila's 6-5 big boy. Our assistants/dads were quick to point out who Hanakila's long-range shooters were and we did a solid job keeping them covered and challenged on almost every shot.

Great defense once again. I don't know what it is about traveling off island, but it seems to bring out the best in us as a team and family. We're now 3-0 in this tourney with two games left.

WE LUB THIS GAME!

Sunday attire

Thunder, please bring both uniforms to the WYBT games today. No idea what colors the other teams wear. We'll take a team photo in the blue uniforms before or after our first game. Sunday best!
WE LUB THIS GAME!

Arrival in Kona

(Forgot to post this sooner. This was the first post on Facebook (Thunder Ohana page) since the trip began.)

Smooth all the way, from HNL to KON. Breakfast at McDonald's. 3 hours from game time. 2 games today, just hoping the guys have lots of energy against the varsity teams. Everybody was on time this morning, lots of laughs. Why am I surprised?

Kids 12, 13, 14 getting to the airport by 5:15 am. Good job, Thunder parents!

Sunday rise and shine

Second morning in a row I'm up at 6:00 am. Some of the kids want eggs for breakfast, didn't have time to shop yesterday. KTA and Sack and Save in town are open. Or it's pancakes and Spam if I avoid the short drive. Decisions, decisions... think it'll be Keauhou KTA, which is closer and opens at 7:00 am. Bananas, oranges, OJ, Sunny Delight... oatmeal? Chris says Tani makes a great pot of rice. We shall see.

Video: Thunder vs. Pearl City All-Stars (13U)

Video: Brandon Higashionna
Score: Thunder 50, All-Stars 37

Video: Thunder vs. Kiawe Heat (13U)

Video: Brandon Higashionna
Score: Thunder 48, Heat 30

Thunder in Waipio Valley

We trekked through Waimea, where some of the guys were lucky enough to dine at Hawaiian Style Cafe. The wait was long, so the rest of us headed to Tex Drive Inn in Honokaa. Then it was on to Waipio Valley. The view was incredible, never gets old.

But when Micah said he wanted to get down to the beach (black sand!), I was intrigued. Then Felcris and Josh said they wanted to go, too. So we went. The rest of the guys headed back shortly after. Tani ran and caught up to us (yes, he ran downhill), so it was five of us. Felcris made it part way down, then turned around and headed back due to urgent business (nature calling). We made it down the long hill, from an elevation of about 1,000 or 2,000 feet.

Then was a good walk through a muddy road to the beach.

Getting there was fun. On the way down, near the bottom, we saw a truck coming own. Chris and Gabriel hitched a ride. At the beach, they jumped in. After being in pools that had sun-cooked warm water, Tani finally got a place that had cold water.

After about 45 minutes or so, we headed back up the hill. About 1/10th of the way back up, I started to realize that this was complete stupidity. And I also realized that all the senior citizens we'd seen going up the hill earlier are incredible athletes. None of them were breathing hard. Me?

By the halfway point, I had to stop every 2 or 3 minutes just to catch my breath. Then it was every 1 or 2 minutes. Walking up a hill at an incline of about 40 degrees is absolute suffering. But I made it up. I had a head start on the kids, knowing they walk faster than me. But Tani still caught me and was long gone out of sight. After I got back to the top, Josh followed. Then Micah and Gabriel. Finally, Chris.

I don't remember the first time going up the hill around 30 years ago being hard at all. But this was my second and final time going up the Waipio Valley hill. If anybody can run from the bottom to the top one day, it might be Tani. At least a mile or maybe two at an insane incline. Could be him. Maybe Kapaa.

After some shakes and malasadas at Tex's, we picked up some snacks and Powerade at Longs Drugs in Waimea, stopped at Pizza Hut in Kailua-Kona to bring dinner home. The boys are playing cards in this awesome air-conditioned condo now. We're getting spoiled by this place.

Quiet R&R before lights out. All is good.

Next: Sunday, 11:45 am - H1 Thunder vs. Bay Area Renegades (WYBT 14U).
Sunday, 7:15 pm - H1 Thunder vs. Islanders (Kona) (WYBT 14U)
Monday, 4:00 pm - H1 Thunder vs. Hanakila (Kauai) (WYBT 14U)
Monday, 7:15 pm (revised 7/25) - H1 Thunder vs. Kona Stingrays (WYBT 14U)
Tuesday, 10:30 am - H1 Thunder vs. LA Titans (WYBT 14U)