MICHAEL VOSS
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
In a lab, combustion is an exothermic reaction that releases energy such as light and heat. In a gym, combustion is a collaborative effort that releases points, and--for Na Menehune boys varsity basketball team, wins.
Though relatively short in stature by professional standards at 5’ 9”, senior Isaiah Sugiura stands tall as the catalyst for the current OIA champions. Simply stated, he’s the player who helps the team light up the scoreboard and burn up the hardwood.
“We’re good friends on and off the court,” Sugiura said of his teammates. “We have good chemistry.”
This chemistry is part of the reason Sugiura, co-captain of the team with senior CJ Bonilla, can take pride in the team’s regular season 13-1 finish and placement in the state championship tournament Feb. 21-23.
Junior Kyle Hughley moved up from the JV team at the end of last season and played with Sugiura during the post-season.
“He’s a great leader,” Hughley said. “He’s one of the most positive guys on the team, no matter what’s going on. If we have an off day, he picks us up. He pushes everyone to be better players.”
Sophomore Geremy Robinson agrees with Hughley’s assessment.
“He brings a positive energy to the team,” he said. “He keeps us up and makes sure we’re not fooling around in practice.”
Robinson said the two of them have worked together since last season and so “we know each other well,” which makes their partnership easy. Because he and Sugiura are both point guards, it is natural for them to run the offense together.
“We read what defense [the other team] is in,” Sugiura said, explaining that the they help the others “look for weaknesses” to exploit.
The two have also teamed up to be Na Menehune’s top scorers.
Sugiura is currently ranked 10th in the OIA Division I for a total of 150 points. He’s also second in the OIA for three-point shots at 21. Robinson is ranked No. 2 in overall points at 219.
Hughley said Sugiura practices every day and is one of the most consistent free-throw shooters on the team at 73.9 percent.
Sugiura said he works out before games for an hour, such as “ball handling and shooting drills,” and includes endurance running, which helps with the full-court sprints he sometimes bursts into after stealing an opponent’s ball.
The team is looking ahead to the state championships--the first round is against Iolani School--and planning how to pull together the elements needed for another explosion, this time to the top of the podium.