Cockett’s heroics
not enough
Instead of an old dog being taught new tricks, consider an older dog doing the teaching.
Former Rainbow Wahine basketball star Nani Cockett showed yesterday that she hadn't lost the shooting touch or moves that once made her an inspiration to many of her young teammates.
Cockett, the player-coach of the Green team, scored 13 points, had two blocked shots and a handful of assists in yesterday's championship game of the 10th annual Mufi Hannemann Basketball Jamboree. She nearly rallied her team of five high school players to victory, but the Black team, coached by Fran Villarmia-Kahawai, outscored the Green squad in the final minutes of the game to hold on for a 61-55 victory at Iolani Gym in front of a gathering of 96 who stayed for the final game of the two-day tournament.
With the Black team ahead 39-32 and threatening to run away, Cockett started a 12-0 run that led to the Green team's first and only lead of the game. She swished a silky 3-pointer, scored on a drive to the hole, dished an assist and capped the run with another 3.
Kailua's Latoya Lastimosa's third trey of the game put the Black team ahead for good with 6:36 left on the clock. Former Rainbow Wahine Natasja Allen followed with a basket off the glass and knocked down her second basket from beyond the arc for a 57-51 lead. Allen attempted only one 3-pointer in her collegiate career. Allen led the Black team with 11 second-half points and 15 overall, despite two rejections by Cockett.
The Green team may not have won, but Cockett still picked up some hardware, earning the MVP for former collegiate players. It was her fifth year participating in the competition.
"(The jamboree) celebrates the end of the girls basketball season and it allows the girls growing up to learn more about gender equity," Cockett said. "It grows every year. It's great for the girls to get together and play with each other.
"I'm glad I got to get to know them. I knew some of them already. They all have great attitudes. We didn't have a few players today."
Cockett's team was shorthanded with only six players. Four of them might be in next year's 11th Jamboree, as there were three sophomores and one junior on the squad. Maryknoll sophomore Cheryl Lee was thrilled to take the court with Cockett, who was her idol growing up.
"It's fun to get to learn from them and to try to get better," said Lee, who was participating in her second Jamboree. "Plus, I get to try to play like them. It was fun (to be on the court with Cockett)."
Farrington's Laosamoa Misa-Uli earned the MVP trophy for the high school division and scored 14 points yesterday on a variety of post-up moves. Misa-Uli was happy with her performance in the tournament and glad to be on the same team as players she normally competes against, like Kahuku's Mona Ale.
"It's less stressful but still competitive," Misa-Uli said. "It's kind of hard because it's a lot of awesome players. I saw a lot of girls taking it to the hoop and I want to work on driving more (for next year)."