Boys basketball

The two teams couldn’t be much more contrasting, which is why the Kaimuki Bulldogs and Kalani Falcons were mesmerizing to watch in Kaimuki’s 48-46 win on Friday night. In one corner, the Falcons, the Floyd Mayweather of prep hoops in Hawaii. A deliberate, jab-and-dodge team that has been a mainstay in the OIA Division II playoffs and state tournament. In the other corner, the Bulldogs, a wildly hot-and-cold squad that can accumulate buckets or head-scratching mistakes in bunches. The potency […]

It’s no different for most boys basketball coaches and players in Hawaii. In Tuesday’s edition of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, girls basketball coaches chimed in with their thoughts about the shot clock, which has been approved nationally by the NFHS (National Federation of High Schools) for use in the 2022-23 season. Eight states have already implemented the shot clock over the years, including the CIF (California Interscholastic Federation). A few years back, only three states were using it. The number will […]

Sometimes, close isn’t enough, but close contact — and ensuing protocols — are enough to affect a basketball team. Saint Louis collected nine out of 10 first-place votes to remain atop the Star-Advertiser Boys Basketball Top 10 on Monday. The Crusaders are 7-1 in the ILH gauntlet, where the teams that have stayed healthiest during the regular season are reaping the most rewards. Punahou received one first-place vote. Maryknoll, Punahou, ‘Iolani and Kamehameha round out the top five, all ILH […]

If the boys basketball schedule seems crammed and rushed in the coming weeks, there’s one simple reason. The state tournament, originally set for Feb. 28-Mar. 5, has been moved up a week earlier. The Heide & Cook/HHSAA Boys Basketball State Championships are now scheduled for Feb. 21-26. The sites remain intact: Moanalua and McKinley in Division I, Kalani and Kaimuki in D-II, and Blaisdell Arena on championship finals night. The HHSAA made the announcement to leagues earlier this week, citing […]

There’s no place like home for JJ Mandaquit. “Hilo will always be home,” the ‘Iolani freshman said. Hilo has been hoop town for thousands of young basketball players over the decades, going all the way back to legendary Ah Chew Goo. Mandaquit grew up in a post-hoops mecca era, when more than two dozen small programs operated out of the many small, plantation-era gyms in Hilo and outlying areas. Second- and third-generation coaches teaching fundamentals. Piopio Bears, anyone? Mandaquit, a […]

Saint Louis collected 10 of 11 first-place votes to remain atop the Star-Advertiser Boys Basketball Top 10. The Crusaders, sparked by seniors Aiva Arquette and Hayden Bayudan, lost in ILH for the first time last week. They sandwiched a 55-52 loss to Punahou win a 47-39 win over ‘Iolani and a 51-44 victory over Maryknoll. Despite the loss to Saint Louis, Maryknoll moved up a notch to No. 2. The Spartans posted wins over Damien and ‘Iolani last week. ‘Iolani, […]

They don’t need to be perfect, just persistent. Punahou’s 55-52 win over No. 1 Saint Louis on Thursday night confirmed what coach Darren Matsuda knew. His young, talented team just need to get healthy — and believe. “We’re just really trying to focus on the mental part of the game and stay in the moment play by play. When Maryknoll caught us and Kamehameha caught us, we weren’t able to stay the course. We got a little nervous, we got […]