High School Beat
Star-Bulletin staff
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Kahuku coach says Fotu will not commit until trips are completed
Nai Fotu, one of the state's top defensive prospects, remains uncommitted to any university, Kahuku coach Reggie Torres said yesterday.
Fotu, a 5-foot-11, 242-pound lineman, has offers from Hawaii, Arizona and Utah. The Deseret News (Utah) reported yesterday that Fotu had given Utah an oral commitment.
However, Torres said that Fotu will not make a decision until later.
"They're going to wait until their trips," he said of Fotu and nose guard Kaniela Tuipulotu. "They're leaning toward Utah, but they're going to wait."
The NCAA Clearinghouse will have to approve his current English courses.
"He's a good kid and a hard worker," Torres said about Fotu.
Tuipulotu has offers from Hawaii, Arizona, Boise State and New Mexico State in addition to Utah. He said that he will be a Division I qualifier as long as his grade-point average remains at 3.0.
Kahuku captured its fourth straight Oahu Interscholastic Association Red Conference title last week with a 7-0 win over Waianae.
A triumphant night:
The Punahou Buffanblu were too tired, too spent and too honest to feel any other way.
Kamehameha is truly the best girls volleyball team in Hawaii. Again.
The Buffanblu were a close second, both in league play and the state tourney, to their rivals from Kapalama Heights. Kamehameha's 35-37, 25-21, 25-21 victory last Thursday night in the finals state championships may have been the most well-earned in recent history.
Kamehameha finished with a 20-1 record and grabbed its second state championship trophy in as many seasons.
Tournament most valuable player Kanani Herring was impeccable at every spot on the floor. The junior amassed 19 kills (.333), 10 digs and two roofs. Bekah Torres tallied 14 kills (.281), four aces, five digs and four blocks.
The opening game was truly epic.
"We were a little tight. We wanted it so bad," Herring said.
Punahou seniors Elizabeth Kaaihue and Larissa Nordyke were on their game, drawing the admiration of veteran college and international coach Jim Iams. The first-year Punahou coach also smiled just thinking about how Kamehameha delivered in the clutch behind Herring and Torres.
"The winner was high school volleyball," Iams said. "(Torres and Herring) had a helluva match. Our girls did, too. We left our hearts out there on the court. I'm proud of our team. Hats off to Kamehameha and their staff. They did a great job."
With all things being equal, there wasn't much Punahou could do about Herring's back-row bazooka shots in the final two games.
"She was putting it in spots where we had to concede. We didn't have blockers with the experience to stop that. She hit it with that velocity at different angles," Iams said.
Punahou's run to the state tourney wasn't easy, not after losing the tiebreaker match for a state berth after the first round of Interscholastic League of Honolulu play.
"It's been a long three, four weeks for us," he said, noting injuries to Shaena-Lyn Kuehu and Nordyke.
Nordyke showed no signs of any ankle injury and finished with 19 kills (.354), and Kaaihue finished with 14 kills and 14 digs.
"Those two have been steady. They've been rocks for us," Iams said. "They almost pulled it through."
UC Irvine awaits Nordyke next season.
"I wanted no regrets. We didn't look at the score. We just tried to play our best game," the 5-foot-9 outside hitter said.
Kamehameha was flustered for a very short time. They roared ahead in Game 2 and never let Punahou hang around again.
"When they got two or three points in a row, we got intimidated. That's something we've tried to work on," Nordyke said. "They're great players."
Athletes of the Week
BOYS
Bryce Jenkins, Leilehua cross country: won the state championship with a time of 16 minutes and 23 seconds at Central Oahu Regional Park.
GIRLS
Juliana Besenbruch, Maryknoll cross country: captured the state championship in 19:26.
Honor Roll
BOWLING
Rich Kodama, HBA boys: The senior was the medalist at the state tournament with a 1,848 score.
Dara Ajimine, Kalani girls: The sophomore won the state tournament by 25 pins with a 1,686.
FOOTBALL
Martin Iosefo, Leilehua: caught 11 passes for 150 yards and a touchdown against Mililani.
Bryant Moniz, Leilehua: threw for 289 yards and three touchdowns on 23-for-30 passing against Mililani.
Tiave Oto, Kahuku: intercepted two passes against Waianae in the OIA championship game.
Ian Rigterink, Kahuku: averaged 41 yards per punt on nine kicks and made three tackles following punts in a win over Waianae.
Jordan Torres, Mililani: ran for 116 yards against Leilehua.
VOLLEYBALL
Aolani Ahina, Molokai: had five aces against Kaimuki.
Brianna Amian, Moanalua: hit 12 kills vs. Kamehameha.
Kanani Herring, Kamehameha: slammed 15 kills against Moanalua and 19 against Punahou, and was named MVP of the state tourney.
Elizabeth Kaaihue, Punahou: tallied eight kills against McKinley and 21 kills against Kamehameha-Hawaii.
Kaleinani Kabalis, Moanalua: amassed 10 kills and two aces against Kamehameha.
Kealohilani Kea, Kamehameha: collected 39 assists against Punahou.
Shawna-Lei Kuehu, Punahou: had seven kills and three blocks against McKinley, and 13 kills and three blocks against Kamehameha-Hawaii.
Jordan Meredith, Kamehameha: pounded 12 kills and three aces against Moanalua.
Haili Pokipala, Sacred Hearts: had seven kills against Word of Life and was named MVP of the Division II state tourney.
Crystal Powell, Word of Life: tallied 15 kills against Waimea.
Chanteal Satele, Word of Life: managed 21 kills against Waimea.
Bekah Torres, Kamehameha: amassed 14 kills and four aces against Punahou.
Tanya Ugaitafa, Maui: had 10 kills against Kalani.
Nue Wong, Waimea: hit 12 kills against Waianae and 12 against Word of Life.
TO NOMINATE ...
To nominate an athlete of the week, contact the Star-Bulletin Sports Department by 11 p.m. Sunday:
Phone: 529-4782
Fax: 529-4787
E-mail: sports@starbulletin.com
To nominate ...
To nominate an athlete of the week, contact the Star-Bulletin Sports Department by 11 p.m. Sunday:
Phone: 529-4782
Fax: 529-4787
E-mail: sports@starbulletin.com
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