KEAAU – Between juggling two BIIF sports, it’s debatable who’s more busy in the Handy household these days.
KEAAU – Between juggling two BIIF sports, it’s debatable who’s more busy in the Handy household these days.
On Thursday, Keaau junior Rico Handy helped the boys soccer team, coached by his father, Richard Handy, earn a surprising 2-1 victory against Konawaena in a match that ended after 5:30 p.m. in Kealakekua.
Then Rico and his mom, Rianalyn, hopped in the car and drove to Keaau, making it just in time for warmups so Rico could make the Cougars’ 8 p.m. tipoff in a preseason basketball game against Kealakehe.
“If the timing is right he can do both all season,” Richard Handy said.
Time was a little more on the family’s side Saturday. The Cougars beat Pahoa 4-1 at home in a soccer match that started at 3 p.m., which was ample time for Rico to make the Cougars’ basketball team’s game at Waiakea three hours later.
If he has to choose one sport because of a conflict it will be basketball, but right now it’s the soccer team that’s off to a rare 3-0 start. Bucked by a more experienced roster than usual, the Cougars’ win against Konawaena was the best for the program in recent memory.
“For now,” Richard Handy said, “hopefully, we get some more.
“The junior class has played for a while, and it’s shown.”
The 11-graders include striker Daniel Vierra, goalkeeper Zane Van Guilder, Christian Mamone and Handy.
Vierra already has five goals this season for a Cougars’ team that is playing solid defense. Vierra scored twice against the Daggers (0-2), Handy netted his second goal and Isaac Faxon also notched a goal.
Mamone and Alex Keely accounted for the Cougars’ goals Thursday against the Wildcats. Both teams are in the White division along with Makua Lani and Waiakea.
“If they keep on focusing and training hard, we’ll be OK,” Richard Handy said.
Like his son, he’s also pulling double duty. Handy is again the only BIIF soccer coach to lead boys and girls programs, but he got a rest Saturday since the Daggers dropped their girls team.
Pahoa relaunched its programs last season, and the boys team, under coach Eric Johnson, earned a win and a draw against a balanced schedule.
The Daggers are in the Blue division along with Christian Liberty, Ka’u and Kohala this season. With a year of experience under their belt, they’re showing better structure and are boosted by the return of senior Jeovannie Villacorta and junior Isaac Hall – who were injured last season – as well as seniors Dante Sagle-Zenor and Kiel Sagle-Zenor, a co-captain who scored Saturday.
“I expect when we play teams in our division it’s going to be a pretty close match,” Johnson said.
Among the wahine contributors is sophomore Lily Aguilar, who, Johnson said, “competes with the boys; no problem.”
Konawaena 8, Kohala 0
Hunter Lewi scored twice in Kapaau as the Wildcats improved to 2-1.
Konawaena got goals from six other players, and Ricardo Lopez Saldana earned the shutout against the Cowboys (0-2.)
Postponements
Heavy rain wiped out three matches: Honokaa’s girls and boys at Hilo, and boys match between Waiakea and Ka’u in Pahala.