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Wire to wire, Saint Louis kept the No. 1 ranking. The Crusaders closed out their first boys basketball state title in 36 years with the top spot in the Star-Advertiser Top 10 on Monday. Saint Louis, guided by Dan Hale, swept through the bracket with wins over Kahuku, Baldwin and Mililani to capture the Division I crown at the Heide & Cook/HHSAA State Championships. Saint Louis shared the top ranking with ‘Iolani in the season-opening poll of coaches and media […]

The Kaimuki Bulldogs got a very close look at Maui Prep on Friday night. The word: “Unreal.” Kaimuki won its semifinal battle with Hawaii Baptist, 72-59, but only after watching some of the Maui Prep-Kohala tilt. MPA ousted the top-seeded Cowboys, 65-46, despite 26 points and five steals by O’Shen Cazimero. Drew Triplett scored 20 points to lead another balanced attack by Na Pueo. “Triplett is unreal. He’s very, very good. Good supporting cast and they all got range. They’ve […]

When Saint Louis unleashed its fullcourt press, Kahuku had no answer. The top-seeded Crusaders had not utilized the press in months, but the timing was right, and Saint Louis advanced with a 63-36 win on Thursday in the quarterfinal round of the Heide & Cook/HHSAA Boys Basketball State Championships. The idea to bring the fullcourt press back was something coach Dan Hale shared with his players. The Crusaders came out with a different look, deploying their quick perimeter defenders in […]

Two Maryknoll alums in a basketball chess match. Only one, Garrett Gabriel or Kelly Grant, could leave victorious. OIA champion Mililani opened an 11-point lead by halftime en route to a 49-43 win over two-time defending state champion Maryknoll on Thursday. The second-seeded Trojans advanced to the semifinals of the Heide & Cook/HHSAA Boys Basketball State Championships. They meet ‘Iolani on Friday night at Moanalua’s gym. The Raiders routed third-seeded Hilo, 57-21, on Thursday. Mililani has reached the semifinal round […]

Back in the day, Baldwin won MIL boys basketball championships regularly. Just like Jon Garcia’s high-post screen offense with its cutters and precision and repetition, the Bears were always there at state tournament time. It was more of the same with Garcia’s predecessor, Wayne Gushiken, but over time, he also retired. Now, the Bears are in juggernaut mode with a faster pace, a different offense and a fullcourt identity. Coach Cody Tesoro, who was a standout guard during the Garcia/Gushiken […]

If you ask, Zach Bailey will tell you why basketball life on the Valley Island is good. Very good. After all, building a Division II powerhouse on an island that had limited access to facilities and offseason leagues for such a long time is not easy. For Bailey, a Physical Education and Health teacher at Maui Preparatory Academy, nothing is quite like the moment. His boys basketball squad is two steps away from a state championship after racing past KIF […]

Jeremiah White knows solitude well. When his family moved back home from Texas a few years ago, there was peace. Reconnection with aunties and uncles and cousins. Then, in a blink of an eye, everything changed. White’s father, Josh “Zeus” White, passed away in 2020. He was 43. The legendary Farrington and Cal running back was simply dad to Jeremiah, who later enrolled at Kaimuki High School. “I knew this kid was special,” Kaimuki boys basketball coach Greydon Espinda said. […]

Kellen Kaneshiro doesn’t call it “32 minutes of hell,” but for opponents facing Hawaii Baptist’s tenacious fullcourt press, it often turns out that way. Back in the day, Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson called his team’s utter devotion to fullcourt pressing, “40 Minutes of Hell.” John Thompson had his furious defenders at Georgetown pressing from start to finish, too. All he wanted was to wear his opponent down in those last four minutes. Often enough, in an even battle, his foes […]