Tonight
would prove to be a stunning night in OIA Playoff history.  Both
of the top seeds from the East and the West were upset on their home
fields and subsequently ending their seasons much earlier than anyone
expected.  Waianae managed to escape and keep their State playoff
hopes alive.

Kapolei Upsets Kahuku 14-7

The
tumultuous 2007 football season comes to a screeching halt for the Red
Raider football team.  The defending state champions suffer their
first home loss in almost a decade at the hands of Kapolei 14-7.

A
small minority of parents created a dissident movement to get head
coach Reggie Torres removed from his position earlier this month. 
E-mails and threats circulated the North Shore leading to meetings with
school and DOE officials, and a forced boycott of one practice by half
of the players.  The distractions finally took its toll.

The Kapolei defense came to play, holding the vaunted Kahuku running attack at bay.

“This is the biggest victory in our short history!” said Kapolei Coach Darren Hernandez. 

Kapolei advances to play Waianae next Saturday in the Semi-Finals at aloha Stadium.

Leilehua Defeats Mililani in OT

Not to be outdone, the Leilehua Mules upset the West #1 Seed Mililani 27-21 in overtime at Mililani high School.

These
neighboring rivals battled to a 21-21 tie at the end of
regulation.  The Trojans got first possession in overtime and
scored on a Colin Lund filed goal.  But a roughing the kicker
penalty was accepted by Head Coach Darnell Arceneaux and the Trojans
erased the points to get the possession and the opportunity to score a
touchdown.  Leilehua was able to stop them on 4th and goal.

The Mules then took their turn. Running back Bronson Pausa would score from 2 yards out to give the Mules the victory.

Leilehua
will play either Farrington or Campbell which plays tomorrow night at
Roosevelt Stadium.  That semi-final game will be next Saturday at
Aloha Stadium.  Mililani ends their season.

Waianae Survives

Out
on the Leeward Coast, Waianae prevented a 3rd upset by defeating
Kalaheo 12-6 in a defensive battle.  The Seariders will play
Kapolei in next Saturday�??s semi final game at 4:00p at Aloha Stadium.

Defending champion Roosevelt was upset Tuesday by Moanalua, 25-23, 25-16.  Head Coach Tommy Lake saw one of his key players, Kaleinani Kabalis, play one of her better all-around matches of the season.  She had 17 kills to go with good passes and sets.  If she plays equally as well in the championship match, the Kahuku defense will have their work cut out for them.  The Na Menehune defense also executed their game plan in the semi-finals. They held Roosevelt’s top hitter, Mele Yamashiro to only 8 kills.

But East #1 Seed Kahuku has more than one offensive weapon.  Coach Uila Fotu Vendiola has played as much as 18 players.  Partly because they were beating their opponents handily.  But also because she has that kind of depth.  Attacks could come from Leilani Tafuna one night, or Alyssa Wily the next.   Shanlie Kaulula’au had 5 kills in game 1 of their semi-final win over Mililani on Tuesday.

The Moanalua team took some consecutive losses toward the latter part of the season when Kabalis was not able to play.  Similarly, Kahuku got their only 2 losses at the end of the season coincidentally when all the intensity surrounding the football team were at its apex.  The Lady Red Raiders even had to battle to 3 games to defeat Kapolei in the quarterfinals.

Both teams are playing their best volleyball now.  Both coaches would agree that now is the best time to hit your peak.

The Lady Red Raiders would tie Roosevelt at 21-21 after a tough serve by Leilani Tafuna caused a Rough Rider overpass.  The tie would turn into a 2-point lead for Kahuku at 23-21.

But that would be all the scoring for the Red Raiders.

After a Kahuku service error, Emily Maeda served an ace to tie the game again at 23-23.  Meleana Yamashiro, who struggled a bit in this game with only 2 kills and 2 hitting errors, came through with a **** to take the lead for good.  A Red Raider hitting error ended game 1.

Game 2 would not be so close.