The Crusaders and Rough Riders will play in the final game of the opening day of the 2014 Walter Wong Invitational at McCabe Gymnasium Friday. ScoringLive photo illustration

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Roosevelt boys basketball coach Steve Hathaway is quite eager to see how his team fares in the annual Walter Wong Invitational, which gets underway Friday at McCabe Gymnasium, but he'll have to find out second-hand.

That's because Hathaway will be on the mainland visiting his mother, who is battling leukemia.

"We're going to play this tournament to try and get our rotation together and there are some quality teams in this field, so it will be a good measuring stick for us," Hathaway said. "I just wish I could be there to see it."

The Rough Riders, who have compiled a 4-4 record through the first three weeks of the preseason, are coming off an appearance in the Iolani Classic. They will meet tournament-host Saint Louis in the final game of Friday's opening day of the Walter Wong Invitational at 2:30 p.m.

"They're good, they're fast, they have shooters and a little bit of size inside," Hathaway said of the seventh-ranked Crusaders (7-2). "They're really the one team that we didn't run well with. I think they outran us. Every other team we outran."

The teams faced each other back on Dec. 5 — the second game of the preseason for both teams — as part of the Kailua Surfrider Classic. Saint Louis won that game, 68-49.

"The first time around we didn't play well," Hathaway said. "They have experience in the backcourt and they ran on us, so I'm hoping we show up this time and respond well."

A trio of senior guards led the way for the Crusaders last time. Jimmy Nunuha III scored a game-high 16 points, Ihaka Johnson had 15 and Kevin Marks added 11.

"We're doing well right now, in a sense that we're playing together, but there's still some things that we need to work on — especially on the defensive side — but offensively, I think we're doing OK," Saint Louis coach Keith Spencer said. "I'm pleased with our progress, but we have to tighten up on the little things and buckle down on that."

Spencer said he expects a high-scoring affair against the Rough Riders Friday.

"We saw them in the Kailua tournament and we know what they're capable of doing," Spencer said of Roosevelt. "They're fast, they've got speed, so we'll play small against them and we'll see what happens. Our kids are excited about getting up and down the court this year, so we'll matchup with them, but man can they all shoot the ball."

Roosevelt is also stocked with experience on its roster, which features eight seniors. Three of them — Kevin Foster, Brent Quakenbush and Valen Inaura — combined for 40 points against the Crusaders three weeks ago.

"We're still trying to find an identity, which we're struggling to do with our very small team, but I think we're getting better," Hathaway said. "When we're on we can play with anybody, but we go through some lapses right now, so we're up and down and still trying to figure things out."

Hathaway is hoping to get back another senior, Henry Maumalanga — who he calls his best shooter on the team — by the postseason. Maumalanga underwent ACL surgery in August.

"If not, the next man has to step up," Hathaway said. "Henry isn't tall (5-foot-9), but he's a big, strong body and he brings a lot in terms of defense and rebounding, so we're hopeful we'll have him by the OIA playoffs."

Basketball aside, Spencer wanted to wish the best for Hathaway and his mother's situation.

"My heart goes out to him and his family," Spencer said. "He has the thoughts and prayers of the entire Saint Louis family and we hope everything works out for his mom."

Walter Wong Invitational
All games at McCabe Gymnasium
Friday
10 a.m. — Damien vs. Kapolei
11:30 a.m. — University High vs. Leilehua
1 p.m. — Zhejiang vs. McKinley
2:30 p.m. — Roosevelt vs. Saint Louis
Saturday
12:30 p.m. — Kapolei vs. University High
2 p.m. — Roosevelt vs. Damien
3:30 p.m. — McKinley vs. Leilehua
5 p.m. — Zhejiang vs. Saint Louis
Monday
12:30 p.m. — Damien vs. McKinley
2 p.m. — University High vs. Roosevelt
3:30 p.m. — Zhejiang vs. Leilehua
5 p.m. — Kapolei vs. Saint Louis
Tuesday
12:30 p.m. — University High vs. McKinley
2 p.m. — Roosevelt vs. Kapolei
3:30 p.m. — Damien vs. Zhejiang
5 p.m. — Leilehua vs. Saint Louis