Aaron Francisco is a two-time All-Mountain West selection.
Shrine game
a special one
The Shriners Hospital helped
the father of Aaron Francisco
get back on his feet again
When Aaron Francisco visits the Shriners' Hospitals for Crippled Children Northern California with the rest of the East-West Game football all-stars on Sunday, it will have extra meaning for him.
Francisco's father, James, was born with two club feet, which were corrected in surgery at the Shriners Hospital in Honolulu in 1956 when he was 6 months old.
And his girlfriend, Kimi Golonka of Sunset Beach, was born without a middle finger on her left hand. Two operations at Shriners Hospital in Honolulu enabled her to pick up cups and soda cans for the first time.
"I have a greater appreciation for the game" because of how the hospital has helped loved ones, Francisco says.
Treatment at Shriners' Hospitals for Crippled Children is free.
By the time he was a year old, after his surgery and follow-up treatment, James Francisco says, "I could run around just like all the other little kids."
When he learned his son had been selected to play in the Shrine East-West game on Jan. 15 in San Francisco, James Francisco was so exited that he contacted the game's executive director, James Hart, to share his story.
"It is a closing of the loop in that circle, a wonderful, wonderful story," Hart told Hawaii Grown.
Aaron Francisco, a 2001 Kahuku High graduate from Laie, was invited to play in the East-West game after being chosen first-team All-Mountain West Conference defensive back for Brigham Young the past two years.
Hart says the annual visit by the football all-stars to the hospital "is a day and experience that literally affects those players the rest of their lives.
"That visit gives the guys a harsh dose of what reality is like for some people who aren't as fortunate as they are.
"The connection between the players and the children is almost automatic," Hart says. "It is a beautiful thing to see."
"It gives guys an opportunity to start thinking about the possibility of giving back."
James Francisco, now a Honolulu Police senior patrol officer assigned to the Kahuku station, was born on the Big Island.
"My mom was petite and I was a big baby. I guess I didn't fit inside her; my feet were crimped."
Aaron Francisco, a rover or safety (called the Cougarback at BYU) also will play in the 59th Hula Bowl on Jan. 22.
He had 88 tackles this season (43 solos and 45 assisted), seven pass break-ups and an interception that he returned 34 yards. In 2003, Francisco led BYU with 116 tackles, and had 3 interceptions, 3 defended passes, 7 tackles for loss and 3 forced fumbles.
Collegefootballnews.com called him "a several-year pro waiting to happen."
Francisco signed with Goal Line Football Management agent Cary Fabrikant after the 2004 season and is in Miami preparing for NFL Combine testing at Indianapolis at the end of February.
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Hawaii’s female basketball
players continue to shine
on mainland
Fresno State's Aritta Lane (Aiea '01) followed up her strong performance against host Hawaii last Thursday with an even better one Saturday at San Jose State.Lane amassed 21 points and 10 rebounds -- her second double-double in her last three games -- as Fresno State won 79-63 to improve its best start in school history to 10-1.
In the 70-48 romp over the Rainbow Wahine, Lane made five of seven field-goal attempts and scored 12 points.
Lane has regained the team scoring lead with 12.3 points per game (including 59 of 100 field-goal attempts) and continues to lead the Bulldogs in rebounding with 6.7 per game.
This week will test Lane and the Bulldogs.
They play 11-1 SMU tonight and perennial national power Louisiana Tech on Saturday, both at home.
BOISE STATE
Senior Jodi Nakashima (Roosevelt '01 of Village Park) has started in eight of nine games, averaging 21 minutes a game, and has had three double-figure scoring nights, including a career-high 19 against Idaho and 12 last week against Wyoming.
Nakashima, a tri-captain, averages 7.6 points per game.
She led the WAC in 3-point shooting accuracy last season at 41.5 percent (44 of 106).
EASTERN KENTUCKY
True freshman Nancy Hoist, Hawaii's girls Player of the Year for HHSAA champion Konawaena last season, has been out for the past month with a stress fracture in her right foot.
"I had to wear a boot and I was unable to play or practice the entire month of December," Hoist said. "Sitting out injured was really hard for me. I missed the practices and games and the excitement that goes along with that.
"But I just began practicing again five days ago and I hope that I'll be able to get in some game time during our conference play."
Hoist adds, "Kentucky has been really good lately. It's about 60 degrees here right now, which is nice and hot. Usually it's snowing in January.
"The weather makes me miss Hawaii and its perfect conditions. Oh well, I'll be back in May."
Eastern Kentucky already had lost record-setting sophomore Fatai Hala'api'api (Lahainaluna '03), who underwent season-ending reconstructive surgery for torn ligaments in her left knee.
Hala'api'api, who set a school record of 51 blocked shots last season, blocked three in a season-opening exhibition game and also led her team in scoring with 16 points, but 6 minutes into her second game she landed awkwardly and completely blew out her left knee -- torn ACL, MCL and broken bone.
"Fatai is such a strong person and keeps a really good attitude about her knee and her surgery," Hoist said. "She is constantly doing rehab to make it stronger. It will be another six months before she can full-on play basketball again."
MENLO (California)
True freshman Kepua Lee (Moanalua '04) scored a career-high 26 points, making 10 of 13 field-goal attempts, as Menlo upset NAIA No. 24 Doane of Nebraska 74-59. She also had six steals in the game.
Lee was chosen to the all-tournament team of Menlo's Peninsula Hoops Classic. She has scored in double digits in eight of nine games and is averaging 15.0 points per game. Lee has made 45.7 percent of her field-goal attempts (53 of 116).
Junior guard Shannon Riley (Maryknoll '02 of Makiki) has started all nine games for Menlo, averaging 5.6 points per game.
GONZAGA
Sophomore Rachel Kane (Punahou '03 of Kahaluu), the 2003 state Player of the Year, has fully recovered from her knee surgery (ACL) last season, Gonzaga spokesman Rich Moser said.
Coach Kelly Graves has been gradually working her into the lineup, averaging nearly 11 minutes in five games so far.
"He really wants her to be back all the way by the start of West Coast Conference (today)," Moser said.
UC-SANTA BARBARA
Senior Brandy Richardson (Kalaheo '01) scored a career-high 16 points and controlled 11 rebounds for her eighth career double-double as UCSB beat Long Beach State 85-80 in overtime in its Big West Conference-opening game at the Pyramid.
Richardson is averaging 8.3 points and 7.4 rebounds in her first seven games. She has made 47.7 percent of her field-goal attempts (21 of 44) and 84.6 percent of her free-throw attempts (11 of 13).
She leads the Gauchos in rebounding, field-goal percentage and free-throw percentage, but her biggest value is on defense. Richardson was the Big West Defensive Player of the Year last season.
ALCORN STATE (Mississippi)
True freshman forward LaToya Wily (Kahuku '04) gave a glimpse of things to come Monday night with her first career double-double, 14 points and 12 rebounds in 22 minutes off the bench in a 93-55 rout of Prairie View A&M.
"It was a monster performance," said Alcorn State sports information director Tyrone Broxton.
IDAHO STATE
True freshman India Soo (Kamehameha '04 of Kamuela) has earned the starting point guard assignment for the opening of the Big Sky Conference season this week.
Soo had 10 assists and added six points, six rebounds, and two steals in 39 minutes as Idaho State whipped Utah Valley State 86-46 Tuesday in Pocatello. She has started six of the Bengals' last seven games and is averaging 4.2 points and 3.3 assists per game.
"She will be the starting point going into the Big Sky," coach Jon Newlee said yesterday.
"India has gotten better and better as the season has gone on," added Newlee, a former University of Hawaii assistant coach. "She is doing a great job in the open floor, and has really improved in her decision making in the halfcourt. She is extremely coachable, and is becoming the player I thought she would be when I recruited her.
"With her physical skills and the great attitude she has, her future is very bright."
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