Iolani Alumni

As the 3rd ranked team in the Eastern Division of the OIA White Conference, the McKinley Tigers were just a game over .500 at 7-5 and hoping to play well enough to finish in the top 3 and qualify for the inaugural Division II State Tournament. Through the first two rounds, the Tigers knocked off the Western Division’s #2 seed, Waipahu, 57-47 and then took down the East #1 seed Kaiser Cougers (previously 12-1) 57-56. The underdog Tigers, with a state tournament berth secured, now find themselves in the finals against the #1 team in the West, the Aiea Na Alii.

The McKinley Tigers are coached by Bob Morikuni ‘90 (head coach - far left) and assistants Brandon Flores ‘90 (second from left), Duane Omori (far right) and Abel Werner (second from right). This year will mark the second state tournament appearance for the Tigers since Morikuni has become the head coach. In 2004, his first year at the helm, Bob took an undersized Tiger team into the Division I State Tournament and was among the select few in consideration for state “Coach of the Year”. That team was led by star quarterback and current assistant coach Abel Werner.

The OIA Division II Championship game, McKinley vs. Aiea, will be televised live on OC16 on Friday, February 16th at 5:30pm.

(Note: In Division I, the Kalaheo Mustangs will face the Kaimuki Bulldogs at 7:00pm for the OIA Championship. Kalaheo is coached by basketball standout and Iolani alumnus Chico Furtado ‘76.)