Pape’s leadership
was key ingredient
in Iolani’s run

There have been countless scorers in basketball history who managed to average 20 points per game by chucking up 25 shot attempts every night. Many of them have led their teams to mediocre records.

That's why a scorer who works within a team concept and guiding that squad to a championship has value beyond numbers. As a wise scribe, Stan Lee, once wrote in ancient times (circa 1970), "With great power comes great responsibility."

Kyle Pape carried that load, and then some. As Iolani churned out double-digit wins through last week's boys state basketball championships, Pape scored 31, 35 and 27 points. The 6-foot-1 senior made 25 of his 47 field-goal attempts, and shot 93 percent at the free-throw line (37 of 40).

Old-school hoop fans can appreciate Pape's game a little more, perhaps. In a quarterfinal against Kalaheo, he shot eight of 14 from the field, and made 14 of his 15 free-throw attempts. In the semifinals, he hit 10 of 18 from the floor and all 11 of his foul attempts as Iolani rallied from an early nine-point deficit.

The championship win over Kahuku was vintage Pape. He hit just seven of his 15 field-goal tries, but stroked 12 of 14 from the line.

Pape stepped up his game after nearly leading the Interscholastic League of Honolulu with a scoring average of 18 points per game.

"During the regular season, I could've taken more shots, but I wanted to get everyone else involved," he said. "To boost their confidence for the state tournament."

As if his feats on offense weren't enough, Pape is also one of the top defensive players in the state. He has the hops, agility and quickness to cover any guard or forward in the state. Along with 6-3 Kawika Shoji, 6-1 Jon Takamura and 5-10 Wally Marciel, Pape helped the relatively smallish Raiders control the paint well enough.

By the numbers: Impressive numbers rolled up during the state basketball tournament:

» Kalaheo senior David Moore made 23 free throws in a row at one point. He made 27 of 28 tries in a four-game span (.964).

» Kahuku's Clinton Parks was also stellar, making 18 of his 20 free-throw attempts. Many of Parks' foul shots were in clutch situations that helped the Red Raiders get past Kamehameha and Baldwin.

Studying on and off the mat: Kahuku wrestler Danica Auna is not an ordinary athlete by any means. She keeps a notebook, meticulously updating information on every opponent she faces.

The studious approach worked. Auna won the 103-pound title at the Oahu Interscholastic Association championships last Saturday.

Not bad at all for a freshman.

BIIF takes official action: In the aftermath of the incident at Konawaena, where basketball player Kainoa Abril charged referee Mason Souza, the league's executive committee announced sanctions last week.

Konawaena was placed on one-year probation. If any member of the program is involved in another attack of an official, the team will be banned from preseason and postseason play.

Also, Konawaena coaches would also be banned from participation.

Wahine roundballers at Punahou: Some of the state's top teams will converge at Hemmeter Fieldhouse today for the Punahou Wahine Spring Classic.

Play begins at 4 p.m. on two courts. Punahou II meets McKinley and St. Andrew's Priory plays Moanalua in the opening matches. At 5:30, Iolani battles Kalaheo, and Mid-Pacific faces Konawaena. At 7, Maryknoll takes on Roosevelt, and host Punahou entertains Kamehameha-Hawaii.

The tourney concludes Saturday afternoon.

Baseball across Oahu: The 25th annual Mid-Pacific/Richard Kitamura Tournament opens today at eight sites.

Two California schools join a list of perennial island powers in the 16-team field.

Today's slate includes: Kamehameha at Leilehua, 3:45 p.m.; Kalaheo vs. Mililani at Central Oahu Regional Park, 3:45 p.m.; Pac-Five and Waianae at CORP, 3:45 p.m.; and Maryknoll against Kalani at Kahala Field, 4 p.m.

Tomorrow's schedule: Marin Catholic at Mid-Pacific, 3:45 p.m.; Waimea at Roosevelt, 3:45 p.m.; Riverdale at Moanalua, 3:45 p.m.; and Saint Louis at Aiea, 3:45 p.m.

The tourney concludes Sunday at Mid-Pacific.

Athletes of the week

BOYS

Kyle Pape, Iolani basketball: Scored 93 points in three games to lead Iolani to its fourth consecutive state championship.

GIRLS

Aleia Monden, St. Andrew's Priory diving: Amassed a record 475.2 points to win her third consecutive state title in the 1-meter dive.

Honor roll

BOYS BASKETBALL

T.J. Akina, Konawaena: Scored 18 points and had four steals against Campbell.
Tristan Bailey, Campbell: Scored 21 points with seven rebounds and four assists against Konawaena and scored 16 points with six assists against Baldwin.
James Bannister, Campbell: Scored 16 points with 10 rebounds and two blocks in a win over Konawaena and scored 14 points with four blocks against Baldwin.
Josh Bradbury, Kauai: Scored 20 points with five assists against Waiakea.
Ikaika Hardie, Kamehameha: Scored 25 points with five rebounds, five assists and four steals against Kaimuki.
Trenson Himalaya, Baldwin: Scored 21 points with eight rebounds and two steals against Punahou. Scored 27 points against Campbell.
Spencer McLachlin, Punahou: Scored 11 points with nine rebounds against Waiakea. Scored 10 points with 12 rebounds against Kamehameha.
David Moore, Kalaheo: Shot 27 of 28 from the line at the state tournament.
Cody Nakamura, Baldwin: Scored 14 points with seven rebounds, two blocks and two steals against Punahou. Scored 17 points with eight rebounds against Kahuku.
Jeremiah Ostrowski, Punahou: Scored 27 points against Waiakea and 31 points with six rebounds in a loss to Baldwin. Scored 15 points against Kalaheo.
Clinton Parks, Kahuku: Finished the state tourney 18 of 20 from the line.
Mark Sealy, Campbell: Scored 22 points with six rebounds against Iolani.
Va'afuti Tavana, Kauai: Scored 19 points with eight rebounds and two blocks against Kalaheo. Scored 31 points with nine rebounds and five blocks against Kamehameha-Maui. Scored 19 points with seven rebounds, four blocks and two steals against Waiakea.
Cody Tesoro, Baldwin: Scored 14 points with five rebounds and five assists against Punahou. Scored 13 points with four assists and three steals against Kahuku.
Devin Unga, Kahuku: Scored 14 points with 12 rebounds against Iolani.
Kevin Unga, Kahuku: Scored 16 points with 11 rebounds against Baldwin.
Max Watson, Konawaena: Had 10 rebounds and six blocks against Campbell. Scored 13 points with four blocks against Kalaheo.

SWIMMING & DIVING

Gerald Bolson, Kamehameha: Won the 50 freestyle (21.45) and 100 freestyle (47.10) at the state championships. Anchored the 200 freestyle relay team to victory.
Meredith Egloria, Kapolei: Won the 50 freestyle (23.74) and 100 freestyle (51.96) at the state championships.
Andrew Lester, Moanalua: Won the 200 freestyle (1:42.51) and 500 freestyle (4:39.41) at the state championships.
Hogan Orikasa, King Kekaulike: Won the 100 backstroke (53.53) and 200 intermediate (2:00.32) at the state championships.
Drew Wallace, Punahou: Scored 465.9 points to win his third-straight 1-meter diving state title.
Michelle Yoshida, Punahou: The freshman won the 200 freestyle (1:54.55) and 100 backstroke (59.04) at the state championships. Also swam on the 100 and 400 freestyle relay title teams.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Courtney Gaddis, La Pietra: Scored 22 points with 12 rebounds against Kalani.
Megan Giles, La Pietra: Scored 15 points with 14 rebounds against Kalani.

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

Pape’s leadership was key ingredient in Iolani’s run