Wapahani to play at Pacers' home

Wapahani's volleyball team won the 2002 Class 2A title in Hinkle Fieldhouse.

The Raiders' baseball team played for a state championship in Victory Field in the 2004.

The Wapahani boys' basketball team won't be competing for a state championship in two weeks in Indianapolis, but the Raiders will play in the home of the NBA Indiana Pacers.

"That's not bad for our school to get to play in those venues in a three-year period," boys' basketball coach Kerry Zebendon said. "It's a nice reward for the community to get the chance to watch us play there because it has been so supportive of the school. The band, dance team and cheerleaders will be there, so there will be more than 100 of our students involved."

Wapahani will play defending Class A state championship Lapel in the middle game of a tripleheader Nov. 23 at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Anderson and Hamilton Southeastern will tip off at 5:30 p.m. Wapahani and Lapel will follow about 7:15 p.m.

Two-time defending 4A champion Lawrence North will play Lawrence Central in the evening's final game. The Wildcats feature 7-footer Greg Oden, an Ohio State recruit and a center considered one of the top high school players in the country.

Tickets cost $10 and are good for all three games. Wapahani is selling tickets at the school 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on school days. They also will be on sale at Friday's 6 p.m. Red and White scrimmage.

Wapahani players are excited about playing in an NBA arena.

"We've never played in a gym that's very big," said guard Dustin Tobias, who has watched the Pacers play at the fieldhouse. "It's a pretty neat place, and it's going to be exciting to get to play there."

Wapahani athletic director Chad Yencer said Key Bank, the primary sponsor for the event, will provide $1,000 to the academic programs at participating schools.

"It's an unbelievable opportunity, a once-in-a-great-while chance," Yencer said.

The opening game also has a Selma connection.

Anderson is coached by former Wapahani coach Ron Hecklinski.

Lapel, coached by former Southside coach Jimmie Howell, will play its second straight game at Conseco Fieldhouse. The Bulldogs' last game was when they won the state championship last season to cap a 25-3 season.

Wapahani (8-12 last season) will open its 2005-06 campaign the night before it plays Lapel. The Raiders will open at home Nov. 22 against Blackford. On the day before the opener, Wapahani will practice at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Zebendon, an assistant at Delta when the Eagles won the 2002 3A state title at Conseco, was reminded of the fieldhouse's mystic when he walked on the court after a recent coach's meeting.

"I forgot how awestruck you become when you walk out there," Zebendon said. "I'm glad my players will get that opportunity."

What are people saying about mortgages today:

Rates on 30-year mortgages edged down last week to a seven-month low. Mortgage-giant Freddie Mac reported Thursday that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages fell to 6.3 percent, down slightly from 6.31 percent two weeks ago. It put rates at the lowest level since they were at 6.24 percent the first week of March.

Bank of Hawaii, Central Pacific Bank, Territorial Savings Bank and Wells Fargo Home Mortgages all cut their 30-year mortgage rates to 5.75 percent this week.

Most people think of a mortgage as a means to an end. After all, you buy a house, not a home loan. But a mortgage is much more than the path to homeownership. It is a financial instrument that must be managed, just like any other financial investment.