Boys basketball

(Note: This post was written before the state championships and is a venture into what the best teams in the state, Divisions I and II, could have done in another hoopworld universe. It does not reflect the results of the actual state tournaments, nor the key turning points, such as injuries.) One woman, one man can make a difference. Kahuku learned this. Kalaheo, yes. Damien, for sure. The question is, who can adapt? Who will survive and advance? The ecosystem […]

The throne was occupied by Kamehameha for six weeks. In the end, however, defending state champion Maryknoll reigns supreme again. Maryknoll collected all 10 first-place votes and closed the 2019-20 season at No. 1 in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser Boys Basketball Top 10 after sweeping through the state tournament, notching a 46-33 win over Kamehameha in the final. Maryknoll finished the season 31-4. Kamehameha (26-5) garnered every second-place vote to finish No. 2. The only newcomer to the final poll is […]

The morning after was still somber for the Kamehameha Warriors, but there is still gratefulness. Kamehameha saw a dream season come up short with a 46-33 loss to Maryknoll in the Division I final of the Snapple/HHSAA Boys Basketball State Championships. Coach Larry Park confirmed that leading scorer Christmas Togiai suffered an ACL injury during the semifinal win over Kahuku. The team found out after Togiai had his right knee examined. “He went to the doctor yesterday (Friday). He started […]

The shape of the 2020 boys basketball state final changed on Thursday night. Maryknoll overpowered Kamehameha, 46-33, for the state championship on Friday, but the Warriors lost their glue guy on Thursday. When Christmas Togiai hit the deck with 2:20 left in a close battle with Kahuku, nothing would ever be the same for No. 1 Kamehameha. Scorer. Long-range shooter. Arguably the toughest penetrator in the state. Knowledge. Skill. Courage. But none of it could bring the talented court leader […]

The all-tournament teams in Division I and Division II in the Snapple/HHSAA Boys Basketball State Championships were released tonight. Kohala won its first state crown with 51-48 win over Roosevelt while Maryknoll handed Kamehameha its first loss of the season in the D-I final, 46-33. The Warriors played without senior Christmas Togiai, who still made the all-tournament team. Togiai suffered a knee injury late in a semifinal win over Kahuku. Division I All-Tournament Team Most outstanding player—Sage Tolentino, Maryknoll. Jake […]

The run-and-gun Cowboys of Kohala have a history that goes back ages. That history never included a state championship. A new banner will be hoisted into the rafters soon on the heels of Kohala’s thrilling 51-48 win over Roosevelt in the Division II final of the Snapple/HHSAA Boys Basketball State Championships. The Cowboys, led by first-year head coach Kihei Kapeliela, certainly paid the price. “Oh man, this is overwhelming. Super excited for the boys. They totally deserve it,” said Kapeliela, […]

Somewhere during the smattering of losses to Baldwin, Waiakea, Kailua, Moanalua and Kahuku, Steve Hathaway and his staff got the binoculars out. For Roosevelt, the rewards would come much further down the road. The fourth-seeded Rough Riders knocked out No. 1 seed Hawaii Prep on Thursday night and will battle Kohala for the Division II state championship at Stan Sheriff Center. OIA D-II champion Roosevelt (12-7) doesn’t play with a chip on its shoulder, even as the lowest seeded of […]

It’s not just traveling on a budget. It’s about family time for the Kohala Cowboys. “We’re cooking breakfast right now,” coach Kihei Kapeliela said by phone at 9:30 a.m. “Our team mom and I are cooking French toast, bacon, eggs, rice and Portuguese sausage.” There’s no cooking quite like home cooking, or least in a hotel equipped with a kitchen. Kohala has come a long way to play in the Snapple/HHSAA Boys Basketball Division II state tourney. With a 45-27 […]