The Spartans' junior combo guard and the Mules' senior point guard led their respective teams to preseason wins last week. ScoringLive photo illustration

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Male Athlete of the Week: Isiah Gelacio, Maryknoll basketball
In the classroom, Isiah Gelacio is all about the details. It's the same reason he succeeds on the basketball court.

The Maryknoll junior paid attention to the details Friday, when he scored a team-high 17 points to help the Spartans eke out a 40-38 win over Kalani in the Hawaii Self Storage Black and Gold Classic at McKinley's Student Council Gymnasium.

Gelacio, a combo guard, shot 4 of 5 on 3-pointers and added three rebounds and two steals.

"He's an exceptional talent and it starts with his ball handling," Maryknoll coach Kelly Grant said. "He's very good with the ball, he can wiggle his way through double teams because he's extremely quick and he's very explosive to the basket."

At 5 feet, 8 inches tall, Gelacio has tailored his game to his strengths.

"He has fairly decent range with his shot," Grant said. "I try to get him closer to the 3-point line, but he's been conditioned to shoot from far because he's not that tall, so he has range from 24, 25 feet and if he's wide open he's pretty much money."

Grant has also tailored the Spartans offense to fit their personnel, which he expects will play out favorably for Gelacio.

"We kind of opened up our offense this year and we're running up and down the court. It should play to his strengths because he's so quick," Grant said. "I think the style of play we have now really suits him perfectly."

Gelacio, one of three returning starters from a season ago, is expected to be a defensive asset this season as well.

"He a better guarder of someone away from the basket and he causes all kinds of problems," Grant said. "Even when he gets beat he recovers so fast that he can make plays from behind. He's crafty that way."

Grant noted that it's on the defensive end of the court that Gelacio has made the biggest strides in his two-plus varsity seasons.

"He's really taking to trying to get better on the defensive side and really putting in the time to make sure he's in the right position," Grant said. "(Tuesday) we worked on taking charges, which we need to do when guys attack the basket. Isiah got his body in front of some of our bigger guys that are a hundred pounds bigger than him and I think the team feeds off that, knowing that they can always count on him."

One area that Grant says Gelacio has always excelled in is effort.

"He's very coachable and always has a good attitude and works hard," Grant said. "He's always working hard in practice and he just doesn't tire. I've been taking him out of games just to give other kids opportunities, but he could play all 32 minutes."

It's the same relentless approach Gelacio takes in the classroom.

"Studying and academics are extremely important in that family," Grant said. "Isiah is close to a 4.0 GPA; he's up there. He's more of a quiet guy, who leads by example, but one thing about him is he doesn't get rattled in big games."

Gelacio and the Spartans (5-0) will continue preseason play Saturday when they visit Aiea.

Female Athlete of the Week: Shaylee Todani, Leilehua basketball
Much is expected of Shaylee Todani this season and a lot of it won't show up in any scorebook.

Todani, a fourth-year varsity member and two-year starter for the Leilehua girls basketball team, moves into the role of point guard after seeing most of her positions at shooting guard last year.

"In the past Shaylee had to take a back seat to a lot of the guards that we've had the past few years and her role was more of a backup guard, give good minutes, bring something to the table, take a shot here, grab a rebound there, get a steal there, but last year she took on a bigger role and her confidence got real high at the ending part of the season and she really grew into that off guard position."

Todani's role has increased even further this year, Dumlao said.

"This year is a whole different thing with her at the point guard now," Dumlao said. "It's expected out of a four-year player to take the lead and be almost like a coach on the court and be able to run your stuff. She's growing into that role. It's still a work in progress. She's still got a lot more to learn because it is a different position and a different role for her."

It's Todani's experience, however, that Dumlao is counting on coming through in clutch situations this season. She is one of three returnees from last year's OIA championship team, along with guard Kaylen Kamelamela and forward Chyel Palmer.

Among the players lost to graduation last spring was standout post player Tywanna Abbott, who certainly left some large shoes to fill.

"We're looking to be more guard-oriented to open it up a little more for our posts this year," Dumlao said. "I think we have to be a little more of a perimeter team because our posts are not as experienced as they were in the past."

Todani is helping with that cause. The 5-foot-6 senior made four 3-pointers and finished with a team-high 14 points to help the Mules beat Kaimuki, 36-29, in a preseason game last Tuesday.

"It was good because she had to matchup with Kaimuki's guards and play on both the defensive side and offensive side of the court, so it was almost a complete game for her," Dumlao said.

Dumlao said it took Todani a while, but she eventually found her shooting stroke against the Bulldogs.

"She was on fire. She just got into her zone, which she does at practice so I wasn't really surprised, but it finally happened in a game, which was nice to see," Dumlao said. "When you get into a game situation shooting is all about confidence and when you get confidence it helps your game."

Most of the progress in Todani's game has been in her mental capacity, Dumlao noted.

"The skills she's always had it," Dumlao said. "It's just the part about understanding the game and understanding decisions — knowing when to push it versus when to hold the ball, recognizing when there is a mismatch and things like that — that she's continuing to work on now."

Off the court, Dumlao said Todani is almost like an older sister to many of her teammates — both on the basketball and water polo teams.

"She's real close to her teammates and she tries to keep them together; she's like our leader," Dumlao said. "She's always helping out the younger girls. Everybody gets along with her and they like her because she's a veteran and they can go to her to ask questions."

Todani and the Mules (5-4) will host Kalani in a preseason game Wednesday.

BOYS BASKETBALL
Charlie Abe, Le Jardin — Scored 17 points in a win over Waipahu

Ja'Shon Carter, Kapolei — Scored 16 points with two rebounds and two assists in a win over McKinley

Jeremy Coloyan, McKinley — Scored 18 points with two assists and a block in a loss to Kapolei

Christian Corpuz, Campbell — Scored 15 points on five 3-pointers in a win over Kaimuki

Cameron Henry, Mililani — Scored 18 points in a loss to University Lab

Jerry Lawson, Le Jardin — Scored 19 points in a win over Waipahu

Christian Mejia, Kailua — Scored 18 points in a win over Aiea

Zoar Nedd, Kapolei — Scored 17 points with nine rebounds, six steals and three assists in a win over McKinley

Kapaa Nishimura, Kalani — Scored 19 points with two rebounds in a loss to Maryknoll

Kaleo Pogue, Mililani — Scored 19 points in a loss to University Lab

GIRLS BASKETBALL
Camy Aguinaldo, Iolani — Scored 16 points in a loss to Maryknoll

Mikiala Maio, Kamehameha — Scored 19 points in a loss to Punahou

Sonia Palik, Kaimuki — Scored 15 points with four rebounds and two steals in a loss to Leilehua

Delylah Sanerivi, Moanalua — Scored 15 points in a win over Waipahu

Kiana Vierra, Kamehameha — Scored 14 points in a loss to Punahou

Taylor Wu, Iolani — Scored 14 points in a win over Kaiser