Basketball season isn’t
over because it’s the girls’ turn
High school basketball season lasts a lot longer in Hawaii than on the mainland.
That's because girls basketball is played in the spring here.
There has been talk of running the boys and girls seasons concurrently in the winter. While it would afford seniors planning on playing in college a better time frame for recruiting purposes, it would also force the girls to share the spotlight with the boys.
In a way, Hawaii fans are lucky because they can watch high school games from December through May.
The boys season finished Saturday and girls preseason tournaments are under way.
One such preseason tournament runs today through Saturday at defending state champion Punahou's Hemmeter Fieldhouse.
Two Buffanblu (split squad) teams are hosting some of the top teams from last year's state tournament, including Kahuku, Moanalua, McKinley, Maryknoll and Konawaena.
St. Francis, Iolani and Kamehameha-Big Island are also competing in the tourney.
Two other top teams from last season -- Kamehameha and Kalaheo -- play host to their own tournaments this week.
Punahou coach Mike Taylor has only one senior back from last year's championship team -- guard Eryn Chun. Gone are three who compete at Division I colleges this year -- Star-Bulletin Player of the Year Rachel Kane (Gonzaga), Elyse Umeda (Princeton) and Becky Hogue (Loyola Marymount).
"Eryn is one of our leaders, her third year on the varsity," Taylor said. "She has all-around court savvy and intensity on defense."
Christine Takara, a swingman, and guard Shanna Dacanay are among the Buffanblu's other team leaders.
Taylor sees a lot of talent around the state.
"We played Lahainaluna at the McKinley tournament last weekend and they look like the team to beat on Maui. They're good and scrappy. Monika Vehikite takes it strong to the rack and we didn't have anybody who could stop her."
Taylor saw state runner-up Kahuku warming up at the Tigers' tournament.
"They look very focused, very determined and they're very big and athletic kids," he said. "They took it to Baldwin pretty hard and Baldwin is a pretty good club."
Kahuku returns many key players from last year, including Latoya Wily and Mona Ale.
Taylor mentioned a bunch of teams and top players to look for as being highly competitive this season -- Kalaheo (Taylor Smith), Kamehameha (Tatriana Lorenzo, Mounia Nihipali, India Soo), Moanalua (Kepua Lee), Farrington (Laosamoa Misa-Uli), Iolani (Ginger Gravelle), Maryknoll (Hennesea Tokumura) and Konawaena (Jessica Hanato, Nancy Hoist).
"(Defending OIA champion) Moanalua has a new coach (Kimo Miller takes over for Roy Dias) and I've heard rumblings about the potential they have," Taylor said.
Warriors host Challenge: Kamehameha's tournament -- the Imua Challenge -- runs tomorrow through Saturday at Kekuhaupio Gym.
Kapolei, Kaiser, Keaau and Molokai join two Warrior squads in the tourney.
For the record: Iolani's Derrick Low finished his high school basketball career with a 62-2 record (101-4 including preseason games) against Hawaii teams.
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Athletes of the Week
>> Derrick Low, Iolani basketball: Scored 24 points in the state tournament final against Kalaheo to lead the Raiders to their third straight championship. He also scored 12 points with seven assists and six rebounds in the semifinals against Mililani.
>> Aleia Mondon, St. Andrew's Priory diving: Broke a 21-year-old state championship record in girls 1-meter diving. Her 471.65 points bettered the mark of 452.40 set by Sandra Serai of University in 1983.
Honor Roll
BOYS BASKETBALL
>> Alex Patykula, Mililani: Scored 26 points in a first-round state tournament win over Baldwin and 19 in a quarterfinal victory over Kealakehe.
>> Trenson Himalaya, Baldwin: Scored 16 points and added five rebounds in a loss to Mililani.
>> Jimmy Miyasaka, Kaimuki: Scored 17 points in a first-round win over Waimea. He also had 15 points and five rebounds in a consolation loss to Kealakehe.
>> Robert Holder, McKinley: Scored 18 in a first-round loss to Kamehameha.
>> Sam Wilhoite, Kalaheo: Scored 18 points in a quarterfinal win over Kamehameha and 17 in the title-game loss to Iolani.
>> William Elliott, Kalaheo: Hit four 3-pointers in the title game loss to Iolani.
>> Jeremiah Ostrowski, Punahou: Scored 21 points and shot 70 percent in a quarterfinal win over Maui. He also had 26 points in a third-place win over Mililani.
>> Spencer McLachlin, Punahou: Grabbed nine rebounds in the victory over Maui.
>> Sean Curtis, Maui: Scored 17 points in a loss to Punahou.
>> Puna Neumann, Mililani: Scored 18 points in a quarterfinal win over Kealakehe.
>> Kyle Teves, Kealakehe: Scored 26 points in a loss to Mililani.
>> Ryan Hirata, Iolani: Scored 16 points -- including back-to-back 28-foot 3-pointers -- in a quarterfinal win over Kaimuki.
>> Kyle Pape, Iolani: Scored 15 points with five rebounds in a quarterfinal victory over Kaimuki.
>> Nick Milan, Kaimuki: Pulled down eight rebounds in a loss to Iolani.
>> Cody Tesoro, Baldwin: Scored 17 points in a consolation win over Waimea.
>> Jordon Dizon, Waimea: Scored 19 in a loss to Baldwin.
>> Waika Spencer, Kamehameha: Scored 20 points in a consolation win over Maui.
>> Ioane Spencer, Kealakehe: Scored 13 points and added eight boards in a consolation win over Kaimuki.
>> Abel Werner, McKinley: Scored 16 points and had nine rebounds and six assists in a consolation win over Waiakea.
>> Iakopo Taumua, McKinley: Pulled down 10 rebounds against Waiakea.
>> Abe McGrew, Waiakea: Grabbed 16 rebounds in a loss to Punahou and added 10 rebounds against McKinley.
>> Cheynne Hirota, Waiakea: Had 10 boards against McKinley.
>> Zach Tollefson, Iolani: Hit a clutch 3-pointer and two pressure free throws in the title-game win.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
>> Bre Carson, McKinley: Scored 17 points in a preseason win over Radford.
>> Tati Beasley, Roosevelt: Won MVP honors at the Pearl City preseason tournament.
SWIMMING AND DIVING
>> Drew Wallace, Punahou: Shattered his own state meet 1-meter diving record with 484.5 points. The old record he set last year was 439.65.
>> Noa Sakamoto, Punahou: Won the 200 and 500 freestyle events at the state meet.
>> Mark Eckert, Iolani: Won the 100 backstroke and 200 individual medley at states.
>> Randall Tom, Seabury Hall: Won the 50 freestyle and the 100 butterfly state titles.
>> Meredith Egloria, Kapolei: Won the girls 50 and 100 freestyle state titles.
>> Chelsea Nagata, Maui: Won the girls 100 butterfly and the 100 backstroke state races.
WRESTLING
>> Rene Suehiro, McKinley: Won his fourth OIA title.
>> Riley Martin, Iolani: Scored a pin in the finals to win the 275-pound class in helping the Raiders to the ILH title.
>> Danyelle Hedin, Kailua: The two-time state champ won her first OIA title against four-year rival, Leilani Relator of Kahuku.
>> Richard Torres, Kahuku: Won the 112-pound final to help the Red Raiders win the OIA title.
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