This was no surprise.
Vic Aguirre’s influence on youth basketball on Maui has grown exponentially through the Maui Sparks club team. Players have become impact contributors throughout the MIL.
When Maui High decided to make a change, Aguirre was ready to make a move. After five seasons coaching at Kamehameha-Maui, a new chapter has opened.
“After it was done, I knew it was time to move on (from KS-Maui). I talked to my AD and he was OK with it,” Aguirre said on Saturday.
Vic Aguirre coached at KS-Maui for five years.
At KS-Maui, daughter Ashley Peralta was one of their standout performers before graduating in 2018. The Warriors had a solid run with Peralta, who will play at Humboldt State this winter, and Kimani Fernandez (now at Alaska-Anchorage). Last season, the Warriors were 4-15 overall while Aguirre saw his club players flourish at other schools.
No more. Now he takes the reins at a Maui program that is stocked with Sparks. The core of the Maui High squad was very young last season, and under Gilbert Silva, the Sabers landed in the Star-Advertiser Girls basketball Top 10. An early edge in the MIL standings, however, did not lead to the big dance. Injuries played a role as Lahainaluna repeated and King Kekaulike earned the league’s second berth to the state tournament.
Maui High was 13-6 last season under Silva, their longtime mentor. At 9-3 in league play, the potential for a sustained run is there, even as Lahainaluna (12-8, 9-2 MIL) returns its entire roster, and King Kekaulike (18-7, 8-4) has an equally young, talented lineup coming back.
Aguirre, 42, is safety engineer at Reef Development Hawaii. Born in California, his family moved to the islands when he was 6. After living on Oahu, he was 10 when they hopped over to Maui, where he played at St. Anthony.
The impact of club teams like Maui Sparks and Country Jacks — coached by Kai Pahukoa — has leveled out the talent pool in the MIL. More players have opted to stay in their home districts rather than transfer to the league’s dynastic program, Lahainaluna. King Kekaulike ended the Lady Lunas’ 164-win streak in MIL play, and Maui followed up with its first victory over Lahainaluna in ages.
Now, the Sabers have their man. Aguirre’s club works out year round, traveling every summer with the exception of this year due to COVID-19.
Instead of losing talent to other programs, the Sabers might become more of a destination spot for dedicated hoopsters. Aguirre doesn’t expect incoming transfers, though. Having athletes simply play for the hometown team is enough.
“I think it does impact everything. When we first started an intermediate team, we grew and we said let’s get these kids to play together as much as possible. The only problem was the private school kids, but you can’t control that,” Aguirre recalled. “Every day, we said, you’re going to be recruited (to other programs). Friends are going to ask you. Come to our school. Why not try to stay where you’re at and build? I think it really is starting to show. Not just us, but Kihei’s club started getting bigger. Country Jacks. The better players are tending to stay in their home district and it’s spreading out the talent.
“For years, they gravitated to Lahaina, the better players. Now they’re just staying with the people they played with. The next couple years, I don’t know if they’re going to gravitate to the school that is winning. There’s a lot more clubs now, so a lot of girls are sticking with their friends,” Aguirre said.
The MIL, he noted, is stacked with young talent.
“This whole island, the sophomore group are great ballplayers. Baldwin’s three best returnees are going to be juniors. Kind of like that 2018 class statewide,” Aguirre said.
The Maui roster is familiar, of course. Here’s Coach Aguirre’s breakdown.
PG Jordyn Luna, 5-3, So. (class of 2023)
Aguirre: “Just continue to develop her strength. Her skill level, she’s been one of the smartest players I’ve been about. She listens to what I say, studies film, she’s real heady. She loves the game and she makes the game fun. She works out not just at our club practices, but with my daughter. One of the guys that I hope to bring on as an assistant coach, he wants to be our strength and conditioning guy. He’s a jujitsu guy, so he sends out a lot of crazy stuff. A lot of ropes, burpees, wind sprints, body weight stuff, kettle bells. Basically, he lets them borrow his stuff. He drops it off. Jordyn’s dedicated so she’s taking it serious.”
SG Kayla Thornton, 5-8, Jr. (c/o ’22)
Aguirre: “She’s pushing 5-10, but she’s really lanky. She’s strong for being lanky. She does need to get in the weight room. Kimani and Kayla are probably the two best athletes on the island. Fiamea Hafoka type athletes. Caliber-wise, Kayla is a D-I level athlete. Everything we do is college-driven, NCAA viewing period, so our girls will normally play in the Cal Storm and Mamba tournaments at the end of July. We have a good relationship with Bobbie (Awa of Konawaena) on the Big Island. I think my daughter was the first one (from the Sparks) to travel with the Stinrgrays. That opened the doors for a couple more of our club people.”
SF Makena Stevenson, 5-7, Jr. (c/o ’22)
Aguirre: “All I know is she can run. That was one of the points of emphasis, that we’re going to focus a lot on defense. In the club, we play man only, and then we switch off of zones. The way we work on defense in the club is different. We have the time. Getting into season, it’s can be tough for kids when they’re used to one way. There’s no one way to do something. Just listen and do what your coach says to do. Makena is fantastic.
PF Leiana Thornton, 5-8, Jr. (c/o ’22)
Aguirre: “She’s clutch. She takes the game serious. She’s super heady. If Leiana was a little quicker with her ball handling, she would be a great point guard or point forward. She ends up involved in a lot of what we want to run. If we want to run a horns set, she knows where everyone has to be. Athletically, she can get faster and jump higher. Mentally, she’s a real ballplayer. If I was still playing men’s league, I’d try to get her to play with us. She always makes the right play, sees the floor right. She does pass up a lot of shots she can take, but that’s a confidence thing. Leilei is also the glue kid. She bailed them out with her rebounding, making a play that pushes them to win. All of them (Luna, Thornton twins, Stevenson) played with me since they were fourth grade. Plus Mikaya and Sofia.”
Kiana Manuel, 5-8, So. (c/o ’23)
Aguirre: “She plays with Kihei girls (club) team. I’ve seen her grow up, same as Jordyn, third or fourth grade. She’s always worked hard anytime we’ve seen her play. The three games (Maui) played them last year, she came in and gave the team solid minutes. Kiana just needs to play. I want to see where she’s at. She’s a good kid.”
Atasha Timbresa, 5-6, Jr. (c/o ’22)
Aguirre: “She played for another club. Cane Fire? I think she was on our intermediate county league team. She’s super aggressive. She got better and when Jordyn got sick, she improved her vision, making better decisions, basically. That’s good to see.”
Jacy Dela Cruz, 5-3, So. (c/o 23)
Aguirre: “She and Jordyn have baby pictures together. She’s more of a scorer. She’s a smart player. She wants to do the right thing. Her first instinct is to go. Straight line up and down speed, she’s fast. She’s another one that works, does the workouts right now. i don’t know what day she’s not working out. One thing is she needs to come out of her shell more and talk. I would like to increase her role a little bit more.”
Natea Tokuhisa, 5-6, Jr. (c/o ’22)
Aguirre: “Sparks player since she was fourth, fifth grade. Great, strong athlete who also runs track. She could be used for different defenses and isn’t scared to shoot the ball. I’m looking forward to coaching her.”
Sophia Otsuka, 5-6, Sr. (c/o ’22)
Aguirre: “Another Sparks player since she was fourth, fifth grade. Good teammate and role player. Does whatever is asked and works hard. Will also give us another experienced player to bolster our rotations.”
Ronie Butihi
Aguirre: “Ronie is a good shooter and loves the game. No fear when it comes to letting that shot go.She played for us as well fourth to eighth grade, I think.“
Hi’ilani Arai
Aguirre: “Hi’ilani is going to be a pretty good veteran presence for the team. She has a knack to get to the basket and isn't afraid to shoot the ball. She played with us last summer in a tournament and was great to coach. Looking forward to working with her at Maui High.“
Ronie Butihi
Aguirre: “Ronie is a good shooter and loves the game. No fear when it comes to letting that shot go.She played for us as well fourth to eighth grade, I think.“
Hi’ilani Arai
Aguirre: “Hi’ilani is going to be a pretty good veteran presence for the team. She has a knack to get to the basket and isn't afraid to shoot the ball. She played with us last summer in a tournament and was great to coach. Looking forward to working with her at Maui High.“
Newcomers
Aguirre: “There might be some freshmen from Kihei. I help out sometimes at the intermediate level. The Kihei kids have a lot of energy and really love the game. They could put in more time into fundamentals.”
Maui Sparks won the 10th Grade Division at the Jam On It Pacific Rim Championships in 2019 at the Hawaii Convention Center. First row: Chasey Koomoa-Sidney, Jr. (KS-Maui), Namahana Kaeo-Young, Jr. (King Kekaulike), Kayla Thornton, So. (Maui), Nikilie Robinson, Jr. (mainland), Haley Mahoe, Fr. (Lahainaluna). Second row: Leiana Thornton, So. (Maui), Makamae Kaili-Kramer, So. (KS-Maui), Kuu Ruidas, So. (KS-Maui), Nique Pacheco, Sr. (KS-Hawaii), Makena Stevenson, So. (Maui), Celina Romero, Jr. (Lanai).
Travel plans are cancelled for the summer.
“We were talking about what to do about travel and we decided at our last board meeting two weeks ago, that’s it. Bobbie called and said, ‘We’re not going to have our (Stingrays) tournament,’ “ said Aguirre, who is understandably wary. “Even if the parents and kids want to play, wearing masks and gloves, you never know what you can get at the airport.”
The Sparks are on pause. The workouts are there, but gym time is out. Normally, the younger Sparks are fairly busy.
“There’s a youth league twice a year. It’s participatory like NJB. There’s an intermediate league once a year, Central MYBL. Kihei has one. Lahaina has their own. That’s more getting people to play. NJB Upcountry, they have a draft. Kihei, I think if you were on a team the year before, you stay with the same group. West side is the same. Over here, the coordinator sets up the teams (MYBL). They evaluate the teams and try to keep them even.”
His focus will be on the Sabers, but the Sparks will continue to play and grow.
“MYBL is a chance to meet other kids, relax from the pressure. That’s how I started, coaching my daughter’s group, then I was coaching three or four teams and in intermediate,” Aguirre said. “One year I was helping at Maui High, coaching MYBL two teams, and intermediate. People thought i was crazy, but I love coaching. The kids want to play.”
His father, Danny Aguirre, coached at St. Anthony after he graduated. He never planned to coach, but it was already in his blood. When his daughter graduated, Aguirre could have called it a wrap.
“That’s what people thought,” he said. “When my daughter graduated, but she said, ‘No dad, people are counting on you. You’ve got to keep coaching. You can’t just stop.’ Most kids, it’s hard to coach your own kid. I could’ve spent all my time on her, but she said she has no regrets. ’You get to help other people.’ ”
So far, girls basketball season, like other sports, will remain in the same traditional season, and pushed back a few weeks.
“I know that most of the high schools aren’t going to travel for preseason just to be on the safe side. The women’s league is the only thing that could happen. Most of the high school teams that have women’s teams, they got one or two games in, then COVID-19 hit and shut down the spring league,” Aguirre said. “Normally the summer league starts the middle of this month. Honestly, I don’t think they’re going to get much. If they open up the rules a little bit, we can do some 1-on-1 and 2-on-2. Everybody’s going to be kind of behind. The good thing is Hawaii has one of the lowest mortality rates so people’s confidence can go up.”
Aguirre believes his team’s practice regiment is well-suited for the COVID-19 Phase 1 and 2 guidelines set by the National Federation of High Schools (NFHS).
“I’m a real fundamental coach, and with the Sparks, everybody has a ball. Normally, the most we’ll do with scrimmaging is 3-on-3. We build through the drills. We do the Coach (Dennis) Agena stuff. They normally don’t pass to anyone anyone anyway, so we’re kind of used to that structure. The club kids will be OK with the workout and drills. That’s something I might have to work on with the other kids,” he said.
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