Wednesday, June 27, 2001

GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
There isn't too much that separates Aiea's Aritta Lane, left,
and Kalaheo's Brandy Richardson. Both were named Player
of the Year in their respective divisions and now the two
share Player of the Year honors on the Star-Bulletin's
2001 Girls All-State Basketball team.

Richardson, Lane
stand tall

The two share honors as
Co-Players of the Year on the
2001 Star-Bulletin Girls
All-State Team

---

By Grace Wen
gwen@starbulletin.com

KALAHEO'S Brandy Richardson and Aiea's Aritta Lane played on the same soccer team as second-graders. Richardson and Lane couldn't have imagined that they would one day meet in the final of a state championship in a different sport.

The 6-foot Richardson and 5-11 Lane stood tall throughout the season and carried both their teams to the 2001 girls basketball state finals. Besides the roles they played for their respective teams, the two have much in common.

Both are heading to California on college basketball scholarships. Both were named Player of the Year in the Oahu Interscholastic Association, with Richardson earning the top honor in the East and Lane in the West.

And now, they can add one more thing to the list -- sharing the Star-Bulletin's Ms. Basketball title as Co-Players of the Year in the state.

Richardson ends a stellar high school career that included a 49-0 mark in OIA play, four OIA championships and her third Ms. Basketball honor.

This past season, the UC Santa Barbara-bound center led Kalaheo to the state final for the second straight year. She averaged 19 points, 12 rebounds and over two blocked shots a game.

But it has been her leadership and court presence that has had the most effect on the Kalaheo program.

"She's just been a monster player from the get-go," Kalaheo coach Chico Furtado said. "Our run in the OIA and how successful we've been in the state is directly attributed to her."

Richardson's dominance prompted Aiea coach Fran Villarmia-Kahawai to once say, "Brandy is a woman among girls. Brandy could step onto any college team and play right now."

Lane, on the other hand, was a diamond in the rough. Three years ago when she first transferred to Aiea as a sophomore, Villarmia-Kahawai used to have to slap her on the back to keep her from slumping her shoulders after a bad game or when she made mistakes.

But by her senior year, Lane blossomed and the raw talent she had demonstrated previously matured.

"Defensively and offensively she was a real threat," Iolani coach Glenn Takara said. "She's very versatile and for her size she's very mobile. She's very athletic."

Lane scored 35 points and pulled down 19 rebounds when Aiea upset top-seeded Punahou.

Though her numbers weren't as high in the championship game, it was her defensive performance that caught everyone's attention.

Lane stopped Richardson when it counted, limiting the Mustang star to just 16 points.

Lane, who is going to Fresno State, may end up meeting Richardson again sometime during their college careers.

Here's a look at the rest of the Star-Bulletin's All-State Girls Basketball team for 2001. The team was chosen after consultation with several coaches from around the state.

Milia Macfarlane, Punahou: Macfarlane was the top scorer for the Buffanblu, averaging 13.6 points, 3.9 assists and 3.9 steals a game.

But beyond the numbers, it was her ability to create plays that was the driving force for a Punahou squad that came within one game of reaching the state championship.

"There's (not) a cleaner point guard other than her," Roosevelt coach Bobby Keanini said, "as far as having a true point guard who can really just run a team, do everything that's asked and distribute, hits some shots, control a team, control the pace of the game."

Monica Tokoro, Iolani: Tokoro, the undisputed leader of a young Iolani squad, helped the Raiders reach their first state tournament since 1996.

Besides the 16.2 points and 4.5 assists she averaged, Tokoro's ability to handle the ball and play defense, not to mention her determination, set her apart.

"She stepped up as a leader for us," Iolani coach Glenn Takara said. "It was her drive to get to the states that forced the underclassmen to work hard. On the court, she was our scorer, go-to player. She ran our offense."

Nicole Garbin, Baldwin: The athletic and dominating forward helped the Bears capture the Maui Interscholastic League with a perfect 11-0 record.

Garbin's defense usually became offense, as she forced turnovers and led fastbreaks throughout the season.

Garbin almost single-handedly helped Baldwin come back in the quarterfinals against Aiea. If she didn't foul out late in the game, this year's state tournament could have had a very different result.

Star-Bulletin Girls All-State Basketball Team Co-Players of the Year Aritta Lane, Aiea Brandy Richardson, Kalaheo Coach of the Year Fran Villarmia-Kahawai, Aiea First Team Aritta Lane Aiea 5-11 F Sr. Brandy Richardson Kalaheo 6-0 F Sr. Milia Macfarlane Punahou 5-6 G Sr. Monica Tokoro Iolani 5-4 G Sr. Nicole Garbin Baldwin 5-8 F Sr. Second Team Keesha Aldridge Aiea 6-1 C Sr. Kylee Nakamura Aiea 5-1 G Sr. Jodi Nakashima Roosevelt 5-7 G Sr. Ashley Takata Kalani 5-4 G Jr. Erica Tadio Honokaa 5-6 G/F Jr. Third Team Megan Ching Kamehameha 5-9 F Jr. Becky Hogue Punahou 6-0 C So. Robyn Manuel Waimea 5-6 G Sr. Natasha Kai Kahuku 5-8 F Sr. Tai Soo Kamehameha 5-9 F Sr. Honorable Mention Heather Gonsalves (Kalaheo) Megan Fong (Roosevelt) Enjoli Izumi-Baltero (Konawaena) Amy Kaaiakamanu (Waiakea) Amy Kotani (Moanalua) Heather Massey (Radford) Elizabeth Narkon (St. Francis) Shannon Nishi (Mid-Pacific Institute) Trisha Nishimoto (Iolani) Myrna Ordonez (Honoka'a) Maricris Sierra (Nanakuli) Shannon Riley (Maryknoll) Noelle Russell (Kamehameha)

ILH

Varsity Division I

Player of the Year

Milia Macfarlane, Punahou, Sr.

Coach of the Year

Shelley Fey, Punahou

First Team

Megan Ching, Kamehameha, So.

Becky Hogue, Punahou, So.

Trisha Nishimoto, Iolani, Jr.

Tai Soo, Kamehameha, Sr.

Monica Tokoro, Iolani, Sr.

Second Team

Samanta Alapa, Sacred Hearts, Sr. Caroline Beddow, Mid-Pacific, So. Fabriann Gin, Iolani, Jr. Diane Okubo, University, So. Noelle Russell, Kamehameha, Sr.

Honorable Mention

Iolani: Ginger Gravelle, Elyssa Street, Lana Young; Kamehameha: Krystalynn Ontai, Ashley Ruff, Tiffiny Ann Shim, Lehua Wood; Maryknoll: Michelle Baduria, Carla Donlin, Elizabeth Kam, Shannon Riley, Diana Samson; Mid-Pacific: Shannon Nishi, Stephanie Toshi; Punahou: Caroline Ane, Rachel Kane, Misha Lam, Darci Murakawa, Elyse Umeda; Sacred Hearts: Brittney Aiwohi, Jennilee Dowda, Jennifer Faumuina, Nicole Raiola, Puaolena Reis; University: Ka'ula Atisanoe, Kamaile Durrett, Karlee Ka'iliehu, Diane Okubo, Janeen Waialae.

Varsity Division II

Co-Players of the Year

Elizabeth Narkon, St. Francis, Jr.

Jamila Jarmon, St. Francis, Sr.

Co-Coach of the Year

Tony Tyler, St. Francis

Deems Utsumi, Lutheran

First Team

Melissa Chan, Lutheran, Sr.

Jessica Choy, Hawaii Baptist, Sr.

Alicia Lave, Kamehameha, Sr.

JoAnna Mahiai, Kamehameha, Sr.

Kristin Velasco, Punahou, Sr.

Second Team

Kristin Kutara, Iolani, Jr. Kara Morita, Hawaii Baptist, So. Shannon Nagasako, Lutheran, Sr. Alexis Reed, St. Andrew's Priory, Sr. Lehua Sanborn, St. Andrew's Priory, Sr.

Honorable Mention

Hanalani: Khara Chilcote, Clarice Kent, Jessicah McGraw, Bethany Nishimoto; Hawaii Baptist: Gretchen Gerloff, Liza Onuma, Chelsea Yasuda; Iolani: Diana McClain, Jennifer Morishige, Amy Taniguchi; Kamehameha: Regina Cummings, Kanoe Eskaran, Elisabeth Kaiama, Chelsea Kalama; La Pietra: Arielle Jessel, Crystal Kimura, Jessica Miller; Lutheran: Kalei Akaka, Kim Awakuni, Amanda Frazier, Michelle Muromachi, Allison Perry-Tagata; Punahou: Cortney Fritz, Karen Murakami, Janelle Shin; Redemption: Kyra Rapozo, Jkae Rapozo, Tiffany Thompson; St. Andrew's: Jenifer Lazaro, Amanda Wong; St. Francis: Chelsey Correa, Adrianne Pereira, Christy Vause; University: Tara Hiramatsu, Brianna Tsukamoto.

OIA West

Player of the Year

Aritta Lane, Aiea.

Coach of the Year

Fran Villarmia-Kahawai.

First Team

Aritta Lane, Aiea , Sr.

Maricris Sierra, Nanakuli, Sr.

Kylee Nakamura, Aiea, Sr.

Heather Massey, Radford, Jr.

Charlotte Garcia, Leilehua, Sr.

Second Team

Keesha Aldridge, Aiea, Sr. Malia Chun-Llanos, Leilehua, Sr. Christie Ayers, Pearl City, So. Uheina Tuihalafatai, Mililani, Sr. Lehua Yap, Nanakuli, So.

Honorable Mention

Aiea: Joelle Sugai, Jasmine Dias, Rubi Carrillo-Torres, Noelani Colburn; Campbell: Renette Fajardo, Rowena Sarandi, Jamie Jua, Amy Elam, Chaunte Jackson; Leilehua: Heidi Garcia, Melody Hanson, Pikake Nutter-Gauder, Nachelle Scott; Mililani: Darci Watanabe; Nanakuli: Ipo Keopuhiwa, Kaui Candelario, Diandra Dias, Bonnie Ramaila, Kristy Titcomb, Ashley Casper, Tashalynn Wiling; Pearl City: Kelli Yuen; Radford: Maellene Foki, Kiesa Jones, Jennifer Taylor, Melissa Cordero; Waialua: Joanna Alfanta, Nocoke Awaya, Michelle Fore, Melissa Baker; Waianae: Angeline Lino, Tristina Nitta; Waipahu: Maureen Cozo, Nicole Keaunui.

OIA East

Player of the Year

Brandy Richardson, Kalaheo.

Coach of the Year

Jenic Tumaneng, Farrington.

First Team

Brandy Richardson, Kalaheo, Sr.

Jodi Nakashima, Roosevelt, Sr.

Ashley Takata, Kalani, Jr.

Amy Kotani, Moanalua, So.

Natasha Kai, Kahuku, Sr.

Second Team

Dalia Solia, Kaimuki, So. Traci Torralva, McKinley, Sr. Cherilyn Ligot, Farrington, Jr. Patti Hardimon, Moanalua, So. Shantel Tilton, Castle, Jr.

Honorable Mention

Castle: Mari Kitagawa, Venabel Aguilana, Shayna Medeiros, Nicole Uperesa; Farrington: Holly Yamada, Revelyn Cabaya, Tina Sanerivi; Kahuku: Karla Tailele, Lindsey Williams, Meriani Lewenilovo, Latoya Wily. Kailua: Kanani Piimauna, Ivena Armand-Baoy, Loke Lastimosa, Jaushlyn Mansinon, Constance DeCaires; Kaimuki: Raquel Santiago, Noelani Tamanaha, Amanda Leopoldo, Tyleen Tausaga; Kaiser: Samantha Ching, Brooke Masutani, Shera Yamamoto; Kalaheo: Heather Gonsalves, Nicole Furtado, Bre Carson, Brina Fritzsche; Kalani: Cheny Bonifacio, Lauren Cheng, Raylyn Camara, Kristy Hirahara; McKinley: Amber Lee, Ceslie Maafala, Chantel Yadao, Briana Ioane, Chyloh Rodrigues; Moanalua: Samantha Davis, Erin Chow, Kelly Kim, Sherice Ajifu; Roosevelt: Megan Fong, Ashlie Durtro, Lehua Lembeck, Cheri Kahooilihala, Kahea Rodrigues, Burgandi Borges.

KIF

Player of the Year

Robyn Manuel

Coach of the Year

Elton Montemayor

First team

Erin Castillo, Waimea, Jr.

Robyn Manuel, Waimea, Sr.

Waiala Quisano, Kapaa, Sr.

Ashley Farias, Kapaa, Sr.

Belinda Butac, Kauai, Jr.

Misty Hug, Kauai, Sr.

MIL

Player of the Year

Nicole Garbin, Baldwin

Coach of the Year

Angel Kalehuawehe, Baldwin

First team

Randi Kikuchi, Seabury Hall

Shauntel McFarlin, Seabury Hall

Nichole Garbin, Baldwin

Courtney Cole, Seabury Hall

Chelsea Kohl, Seabury Hall

Kami Kapaku, Baldwin

Second team

Misty Ohashi, Maui. Liane Matsumoto, King Kekaulike. Kanani Ventura, Maui. Chelby Estrella, St. Anthony. Fatai Hala'api'api, Lahainaluna

Honorable mention

Baldwin: Crystal Manuel, Lori Yanuaria, Isbeau Wai'ai, Annie Malo. King Kekaulike: Marcy Perreira, Rachael Burges. Lanai: Evigal Guillermo, Karen Untalan. Maui: Kupua Cabreros, Janna Young Sik, Kristen Naylor. Molokai: Mahea Rawlins. St. Anthony: Jasmine Ruiz, Summer Dela Cruz. Seabury Hall: Jodi Poouahi.