Former Chaminade University basketball coach Merv Lopes, who knows something about Hawai'i teams trying to knock off Mainland powerhouses, last week explained the huge challenge local high schools face in such situations.

"These Mainland teams have 'basketball players,' and in Hawai'i, we have athletes who play basketball," said Lopes, who coached at Kailua and Kalaheo before guiding Chaminade to a historic upset of No. 1-ranked Virginia in 1982. "There's a difference. These Mainland kids, they live and breathe basketball, and they play all-year 'round. Our guys play football, baseball, volleyball ... But when you go up against these Mainland teams, it's all an attitude. You give a little extra, and you can always learn from it."

That is the hope for state title contenders 'Iolani, Kaimuki, Kamehameha and Saint Louis, all of which face tall orders against elite Mainland teams in this week's 23rd Annual 'Iolani Prep Classic.

Kaimuki faces perennial Philadelphia power Roman Catholic at 5 p.m. today, with Kamehameha taking on Wisconsin contender Vincent (Milwaukee) at 8. Tomorrow at 8, Saint Louis meets LeFlore (Mobile, Ala.), which is ranked No. 11 in USA Today's Super 25.

If five-time defending state champion 'Iolani gets past McKinley tomorrow, it could face Tennessee powerhouse White Station (Memphis) in Wednesday's quarterfinals.

And as Lopes alluded to, all four Hawai'i contenders have key players who are just coming off football season.

"We're still trying to find our identity," said 'Iolani coach Mark Mugiishi, whose Raiders are 5-2 so far this season. "When we lost to Moanalua (56-55 in overtime), we didn't have our football players yet and it really exposed us."

'Iolani also lost by two points to a team from Australia.

The Raiders' starting point guard, Kela Marciel, and shooting guard, Ryan Dung, also were starters on the 'Iolani football team, which ended its season in the Division II state semifinals three weeks ago.

Backup point guard Lionel Fujioka also was a starter in football. Another starter, swingman Case Miyahira, is the Raiders' starting third baseman.

'Iolani also lost 6-foot-5 starting forward Taylor Mounts to a broken (non-shooting) hand recently. He won't play this week.

"That hurts us, because our weakness is size," Mugiishi said. "We really need him."

The Raiders do have returning sophomore Liloa Nobriga (6-3 1/2) and Pablo Warner, a 6-1 sophomore transfer from Moanalua, in the post.

"Liloa has size, but he plays out on the perimeter a lot because in our style of play we spread it out more," Mugiishi said. "Our strength is our quickness. But right now our biggest test is getting everybody on the same page."

Mugiishi said the taller Mainland opponents should help prepare 'Iolani for upcoming challenges in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu.

"Every time we have a big game this season, the other team probably will be bigger than us," Mugiishi said. "We have to at least bring the intensity to the game, and I hope that's what happens this week."

Defending state runner-up Kaimuki returns Advertiser All-State first-team post Keone Reyes (5-11), but he played football as well and had a leg injury that only recently healed.

Second-team All-State post Beau Albrechtson (6-4) played volleyball in the fall. The Bulldogs also return starting point guard Daniel Colon.

Kamehameha's All-State guard Rykin Enos also played football, as did fellow starting guard Andrew Godinet.

And many of Saint Louis' key players, as well as head coach Delbert Tengan, are coming off a football season that ended 16 days ago in the state championship game.

TRIP OF A LIFETIME: Three Mainland teams here this week, Fairfax (Los Angeles), Roman Catholic and Vincent, have played in the Classic before. But the other four visiting teams are not as familiar to local fans. LeFlore reportedly is the first team from Alabama to travel so far. "Their coach said they're making history," said longtime Classic director Glenn Young. "They're from the inner-city, and when they told people they're going to Hawai'i, everybody said they're crazy." Young said he annually fields requests from many of the nation's elite teams. "They pretty much find us," he said.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.