Hopefully for Waiakea, Calvin Mattos won’t have to be the player to bring the ball up the court this season. He’ll already be the one who is counted on to make big shots, score in droves, get his teammates into
Hopefully for Waiakea, Calvin Mattos won’t have to be the player to bring the ball up the court this season. He’ll already be the one who is counted on to make big shots, score in droves, get his teammates into the flow of the game and guard one of the opposing team’s best players.
All the while, the 5-foot-9 senior guard must lend a hand and hit the glass for the athletic yet undersized Warriors, who will have to use a community effort to grab rebounds.
Mattos, the reigning two-time BIIF Division I boys basketball Player of the Year, can thrive at any spot on the floor, but, of course, he can’t do it all at once. How far he was able to take Waiakea during his sophomore and junior seasons was largely dependent on how much help he got from his teammates.
“The reason we went undefeated last season was the way Calvin was really able to get everybody involved and they were able to step up and hit shots,” coach Paul Lee said. “If his teammates finish, it makes Calvin’s job easier.
“When we struggled during his sophomore season, it was when guys weren’t finishing. That meant we had to rely on Calvin even more.”
For Mattos, the figurative light came on long ago and has only shined brighter.
“He doesn’t turn over the ball much any more,” Lee said. “He’s a lot better with the ball, stronger and smarter. I tell him he’ll have to be better as a two-time Player of the Year, because everybody is going to be going after you.”
Coming off their first BIIF championship since 2009 – Mattos scored 24 points in Waiakea’s 60-40 win over Konawaena in the final for a 14-0 record in the league – the Warriors return just one other starter, senior forward Treysen Ishimoto, and reserves who formerly played limited minutes will be tasked with filling much larger ones.
Standout player and coach are ready to see who’s going to step up for the Warriors this season when the spotlight comes on, starting Wednesday against Kohala at the Keaau-Waiakea boys basketball tournament.
“I have lost a lot off seniors,” Mattos said, “so we have to rebuild and work hard.
“To improve we have to be more aggressive and always have the mentality to always win, win.”
The Warriors play press-happy Kohala and then either Konawaena or Hawaii Prep on Thursday at its tournament by design. Lee wants to his team perform under duress as it tries to replace several good ball-handlers.
He tabbed the Wildcats as the clear Division I favorite this season.
“When you have three to four good players with the ball, it’s make you almost impossible to press,” Lee said. “With only one, it can be a challenge.”
While the offense runs through Mattos, the candidates at point guard include seniors Shaun Kojima and Wes Amuimuia, sophomore Jerek Prudencio and freshman Kiai Apele.
Kojima is perhaps the best with the ball of the bunch, while Apele and Prudencio are knowledgeable players thanks to their club backgrounds. One of Waiakea’s best shooters, Amuimuia has starting experience and will be relied on to be the team’s No. 2 scoring option.
“We have a lot of guys who can score 10, 12, 14 points a game,” Lee said. “But when those guys aren’t on, we’re going to need to get it from Calvin and Wes.
“We have seven seniors, all of them can be counted on to do at least one thing well.”
Lee is still hobbled after rupturing his Achilles in a pick-up game, and if his team has an Achilles’s heel on the court, it’s certainly rebounding because of its lack of size and bulk. Senior forward Nigel Henry is on the only player listed at 6-0 on the roster, and Lee would like him to play more physical.
“We have to block out,” Mattos said. “It’s a mentality you can overcome with effort.”
Hopefully, Lee said.
“When you have a bunch of guys 5-10, 5-9, you can cause some havoc,” he said. “But we have a lot of 5-6, 5-7, and 2-3 inches makes a big difference.”
Ishimoto is listed at 5-10, making the forward one of the tallest player on the team. Brothers Jonah and and Noa Tominaga, 5-10 and 5-9, respectively, may have to play in the post, and Waiakea is essentially rolling out four to five guards at a time.
Though with Mattos leading the way, that might be just the way to roll.
“I’m going to be more of a leader out there, but still looking to get other players their shots so I can get mind.” he said. “We’re all fast, and other team’s are that big either, so we can deal with it.
“Hopefully.”
