For once, Chanelle Molina isn’t on a title-winning basketball team.
The Konawaena junior guard, who led her team to the Division I state championship on Friday, watched as two other teams competed for the high-school division crown at the annual Mufi Hannemann Jamboree on Monday afternoon at Manoa Valley District Park gym.
“I’m good. This is a lot of fun,” she said after Team Green beat Team Red 42-30 for the title. Team Green was powered by Lahainaluna’s active post, Folau Hafoka, and Punahou’s versatile Tyra Moe. Celena Jane Molina, of Konawaena, was relentless on the offensive boards.
Team Green was coached by Kaimuki’s Mona Fa‘asoa. Team Red was coached by Campbell’s Summer Aona.
Molina, playing for Team Blue, was the most outstanding player of the D-I state tourney. Her sister, Celena Jane Molina, and Konawaena teammate Aloha Salem helped Team Green win the title. Lindsay Bates and Mikayla Tablit, also of Konawaena, played for Team Red.
Other Wildcat teammates were also scattered to the winds. Konawaena’s freshman point guard, Cherilyn Molina, played for Team Orange. Guard Taylor Bates played with Chanelle Molina on Team Blue.
The four teams were comprised fully of high-school players. In years past, ex-college players played in the Jamboree with high schoolers. This time, each team had a full lineup of 12 players each.
After morning pool play, the four teams had taken turns beating each other and were tied in the standings at 1-1 apiece. The finalists were determined by a points tiebreaker.
Team Green’s roster: Folau Hafoka (Lahainaluna), Tyra Moe (Punahou), Celena Jane Molina and Aloha Salem (Konawaena), Shantel Aleki (Kamehameha), Sienna Ho (Moanalua), Jenee Brown (Hawaii Baptist), Pua Kahalehoe (‘Iolani), Ciera O’Brien (Nanakuli), Sharice Kawakami (Roosevelt), Gieani Balino (Campbell) and Kassidy Misaki (Kalani).
Team Red’s roster: Jasmine Moody (Radford), Maegen Martin (Maryknoll), Cirena Aiwohi (Sacred Hearts), Melina Souza (Damien), Cameron Fernandez (Lahainaluna), Summer Bolibol (Mililani), Camy Aguinaldo (‘Iolani), Sierra Koki (Castle), Starr Rivera (Roosevelt), Lindsay Bates and Mikayla Tablit (Konawaena), Jerri Maluyo (Leilehua).
Team Blue (coached by Tani Almont-Done): Isabella Cravens (Maryknoll), Moki Heimuli (Farrington), Miki‘ala Maio (Kamehameha), Keala Quinlan (Roosevelt), Harley Simon (Mid-Pacific), Olivia Sou (St. Andrew’s), Kyle Johnson (Aiea), Fiemea Hafoka (Lahainaluna), Victoria Kintz (Kaimuki), Chanelle Molina and Taylor Bates (Konawaena), Brooke Maeda (‘Iolani).
Team Orange (coached by Kevin Yamasaki): Keleah-Aiko (Lahainaluna), Patria Vaimaona (Kailua), Ihi Victor and Cherilyn Molina (Konawaena), Renee Van Bergeijk (Le Jardin), Breann Nueku (Kamehameha), Joselle Ferrer (McKinley), Rylie Wada (Hawaii Baptist), Tia Thompson (Honolulu Waldorf), Rose Shimaoka (Kaiser), Rhianne Omori (Maryknoll) and Tanisha Elbourne (Radford).
nice jamboree. good to see konawaena an lahainauna in the mix.